After a life-changing health scare and a leap of faith, GOAL winner Monique Turner found her purpose and her voice at Georgia Piedmont Technical College.
Taking the first step is often the hardest. It means trusting before you have proof and having faith before you feel certain.
For Monique Turner, that step brought her through the doors of Georgia Piedmont Technical College and into a future she was just starting to imagine.
“The beginning of my journey is what I’m most proud of,” Turner said. “I took that first step and trusted the process.”
What she found was more than just an education. She discovered a community where she felt seen. The welcoming faces on campus soon became familiar, and classmates turned into friends. The uncertainty she once felt started to fade.
“Georgia Piedmont Technical College has made this an amazing journey so far,” she said. “From the staff being encouraging and welcoming, to strangers I met in class becoming good friends of mine.”
Turner chose GPTC because it felt right. Affordability was important, and so were the smaller class sizes. But what stayed with her most was the feeling she had while standing next to her mother during the campus tour.
“I like this school,” they told each other. “I can see me going here and graduating from here.”
Her path into healthcare, though, was shaped long before that moment.
In 2020, Turner faced a medical emergency and needed a blood transfusion in the hospital. She remembers watching the calm confidence of the medical assistants and nurses. She also remembers how they treated her not just as a patient, but as a person.
“I told myself in that moment, I want to do this for others,” she said. “The prayer I said in the hospital, God heard me.”
Now, as she studies to become a medical assistant, she keeps that moment in mind. It reminds her why she began this journey.
Her journey has not been easy. After her mother was in a car accident last year, Turner took on new responsibilities at home while keeping up with her studies. Her days started earlier, her nights lasted longer, and the pressure was always there.
“I was waking up early to study and going to bed late,” she said. “I just kept praying, asking God for help and strength.”
Her parents always reminded her that she was not alone.
“They always told me if I fall, they’ll be there,” she said. “And they’ll be there when I succeed, too.”
On campus, Turner noticed a change. Other students started coming to her with questions and looked to her for reassurance. They saw qualities in her that she was just beginning to recognize in herself.
“It makes me feel good to know I can be a voice for someone,” she said. “Especially for those facing mountains they haven’t climbed yet.”
Her English instructor, Mackenzie Calhoun, was one of the first to notice her strength. Calhoun nominated Turner for the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership, recognizing not only her academic success, but also her presence, persistence, and quiet leadership.
Months later, Turner was named Georgia Piedmont’s GOAL winner. The award is the Technical College System of Georgia’s highest student honor, recognizing one standout student at each of its 22 colleges for academic achievement, leadership, and perseverance. GOAL winners serve as ambassadors for their institutions and technical education across the state. Turner will join fellow honorees from across Georgia at the annual GOAL luncheon on March 2.
For Turner, the honor means more than just a title. It shows her growth and the importance of her decision to start.
She hopes that other students who feel uncertain will take that same step forward.
“Be yourself and never be afraid to ask questions,” she said. “Stay curious. Follow what you’re passionate about.”
She paused and thought about the version of herself who once wondered if she could succeed.
“I took a leap of faith,” she said. “And I’m so proud that I did.”