BLACKSBURG (WSLS10)-- More than 6,000 Virginia Tech seniors are preparing for the next phase of their lives, with graduation taking place later this morning. The class motto for the Class of 2016 is "Ignited by Ambition, We Triumph," something that perfectly describes Nina Miller's time as a Hokie after receiving a late diagnosis of a learning disability.
Nina says she always did well in high school, never having to study, but still making good grades. When she got to college, things were different-- Nina says the classes didn't come easy to her and despite studying for eight hours or more, she was still failing exams. That's when the Rockingham County native decided to get help from the Cook Counseling Center.
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After several evaluations and some testing, Nina was diagnosed with ADHD and a learning disability. She started taking part in academic coaching sessions, which quickly helped to turn things around for her in the classroom.
"I was actually thinking about it yesterday when I was finishing up my last exam," she says. "I didn't think I was going to be able to graduate. Freshman year I thought, 'I'm going to have to drop out of school, I'm going to be a college dropout.' And now I'm going to Duke for grad school. I didn't think I could do it. It's really cool to see something happen that you didn't think you were able to do."
In her first semester after the diagnosis, Nina went from almost failing out of college to making the Dean's List. Now, she's preparing for graduation, where she will be giving a speech at the College of Agriculture and Life Science graduation ceremony.
Her next journey will be to Duke, where she will pursue a masters of divinity.