Graduate believes ENMU best decision in life

Staff writer

link Stacy Goode

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Stacy Goode, 24, decided six years ago to attend Eastern New Mexico University, mostly because she knew her education was paid for through a scholarship and grants.

Looking back on her decision two days before she graduates, Goode believes it was the best decision of her young life.

“I don’t regret coming here,” said Goode, who is from Roswell. “I’ve formed a lot of great relationships and I’ve really grown as a person here.”

Goode, who majored in art emphasis and design, will become the second person in her family to graduate when she walks across the stage at ENMU’s 127th commencement ceremony Saturday at Greyhound Arena. There are 390 graduation candidates, school officials said.

The ceremony will start at 10 a.m. and Dustin Seifert, director of the ENMU band, will be the commencement speaker. The ENMU Alumni Association will host a reception after the ceremony in the south gym. Honor students will be treated to a breakfast at 7:45 a.m. in the Campus Union Ballroom.

Goode said her mother, who also graduated from ENMU, couldn’t be prouder.

“She raised me to be independent,” Goode said. “At 14 she told me to go out and get a job. So she’s really proud that I finished, especially because there were some times where I wanted to just give up.”

Originally an education major, Goode always had an interest in art, but never took it seriously until she switched majors.

“I was originally a special education major. I love kids and I love teaching, but I wasn’t 100 percent into it,” said Goode, who works part time as a designer for ENMU. “Design and art was always what I had an eye for, but I was never committed to it until I joined the major. I’m glad I made that decision because it’s something I love and I want to do for a long time.”

In addition to working for ENMU, Goode is also freelancing for an agency in Portales, but has plans to use her degree elsewhere soon.

“I want to go to Denver or somewhere in the Pacific Northwest in five to eight months,” Goode said. “I really want to go to Denver; that would be awesome.”

When Goode walks across the stage on Saturday, she said she will feel a strong sense of accomplishment.

“I’ve been thinking about that a lot and what I’ll feel the most is a sense of relief,” Goode said. I’ve been in school for six years so it took me a while to get my way through school, but I’m excited and ready for the next step.”