Choosing a New Path: Graduate shares journey of healing and purpose

Alice Brown shared words of reflection and encouragement with fellow graduates as the keynote speaker for the 2026 Commencement Ceremony held May 5.

“This moment is proof that consistency beats doubt. That faith can carry you when strength runs low, and that your past does not define your future,” stated Brown, ’26, who earned her Associate in Applied Science: General Technology Emphasis in Welding Technology degree.

For Brown, the words carry a personal story of her own path from pain to perseverance to triumph.

She had previously attended Aiken Tech to become a Certified Nurse Assistant and worked in the field for several years.

“Then I hit rock bottom,” Brown said.

After discovering that one of her children had been assaulted, she focused on ensuring her children’s safety and well-being while simultaneously dealing with her own feelings.

“It messed me up to where I just wanted to stay busy, where I wouldn’t think about things…I carried that hurt with me and blamed myself. I dealt with shame and guilt for years,” said Brown, noting that at some point along the way she began using drugs as a way to cope.

“I just felt like I was drowning…and it was time for me to get myself together,” she said.

Brown decided to enroll at Aiken Tech, looking to do something different than before. One of her children’s grandparents worked as a welder and Brown was inspired by how they talked about their career.

So she decided to go into the welding program. As she began the program, she also sought opportunities to get involved on campus. When she saw an opportunity to apply for a work-study position with the Office of Student Success and Retention, she applied and was hired.

“They treated me like a real person. I can’t explain enough how that made me feel. It made me feel like there was something in me that I could actually do,” Brown said.

At the time, she was still battling a hidden addiction. After an arrest due to her drug use, when she returned to school and work, she wasn’t sure what the outcome would be, she said.

What she heard next from Crystal Edwards, dean of student success and retention, created a pivotal moment in her journey, switching Brown from a mode of survival to striving for success.

“She said something that stuck with me. ‘We are not our mistakes. We are what we choose to be after.’ Ever since I got out, I quit. I didn’t want to lose my job here, and I didn’t like what it (the addiction) had done. I had pushed everybody away. So, I really started working on myself,” Brown said. “I had to change people, places, and things. I got tired of living the lifestyle. I got tired of making poor decisions.”

She started attending Celebrate Recovery, a faith-based support group for those recovering from addiction.

“I quit smoking. I quit vaping. I quit using. I have completely turned my life around. For God, I got baptized,” Brown said.

She also continued to be encouraged by faculty and staff at the College, especially by Edwards, she said, noting that having the support system at Aiken Tech has made a difference in her turnaround.

“She didn’t judge me or change the way she treated me. She treated me the exact same and gave me hope, encouragement, and most importantly, a job. And everybody at Aiken Tech was so good to me, too. It made me feel like I was a part of something,” Brown said.

Brown focused on her welding studies, earning a prestigious invitation to the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK), an international honor society for two-year college students.

She became actively involved in student life, taking on leadership roles in PTK, the Student Government Association, the Campus Ambassadors program, and the Christian Life Club.

She also participated in the Technical Scholars program at BAE Systems.

Brown has attended various conferences and community events as a student leader and was also one of the technical college student representatives from across the state who visited the South Carolina State House to meet with legislators.

In addition to her campus involvement, she is committed to serving her community. She volunteers at a local food pantry and is now a leader of a Celebrate Recovery group.

She has received several honors in recognition of her efforts, including the 2026 Human and Civil Rights Student Champion Award, 2026 Student Government Association Leadership Award, 2025 Outstanding Academic Award for Technical Education, 2025 Christian Life Club Leadership Award, and Campus Ambassador recognition.

Most importantly, she has strengthened her relationship with her children and set a good example for them, she said.

“Graduation means a lot to me because my kids can see where I was and where I am now,” she said.

She has shared her story with churches in the area and plans to continue doing so, in hopes that someone else dealing with something similar is encouraged to choose a different path.

“I think what happens is we get stuck in guilt and shame about our past. I think that’s what happened to me. I was so upset and blindsided by what happened…I just think I carried that weight by myself for so long until I finally took the time to step back and heal because I was just coping,” Brown said. “I’m telling you the work that God’s done in my life, it’s amazing.”

Her advice for others facing challenges: “Be okay with talking about your feelings to someone, don’t bottle it up, and seek help. Continue on your journey even though it seems hard, push forward each day because the outcome of your efforts is going to be much better than what you’re experiencing at that moment. That’s what I realized, too.”

As for what’s next, Brown is looking forward to transitioning from a Technical Scholar into her full-time role at BAE Systems, and plans to give back to Aiken Tech and its future students.