The ‘First Family of LCCC’ is Ready to Graduate

“I feel like going to school here has been a family affair,” Valerie McLaughlin said about going to LCCC, because both she and her husband will graduate in May with an associate’s of arts degrees.

The Elyria couple has been married for six years and her husband, Christopher Smith, has two daughters, Parris and Chynna. Parris is a sophomore in the Early College High School program, and Chynna will be a PSEO student next year. Parris would like to become a judge or also go into social work, which makes Valerie smile. “I think she will do great in whatever she decides to do,” she said. “Chynna wants to become a doctor and I know she will do it.”

Many people around LCCC know Valerie McLaughlin from working in the Connections Center and from classes; and many people have called her and her family ‘the first family of LCCC’. “Being called the first family started about a year ago,” she said. “I remember Raymond Johnson started it.”

Christopher also works on campus in the Compass Lab and is a disabled veteran. He plans on attending Kent State University through the University Partnership for Business. The two have taken classes together; right now they are in math together, which is the last class that they both need for their degree. “I am doing better,” she jokes. 

Valerie plans on attending Youngstown University through the Partnership and study to become a social worker. “I decided to go for social working because this is what I have always wanted to do,” she said. “I want to work with children with disabilities, mental and physical. I believe that theses children have a voice, they just express it differently and I want to help them voice it.”

She feels LCCC has helped her with her journey from the teaching staff to the friends and co-workers. “I have made many friends that work in different departments here at LCCC, and they encourage me to keep pressing through my class,” she said. “Teachers like Obosu-Mensah and Amber Donovan were of great inspiration to me. I love their classes and always look for them when I sign up for sociology or social work classes. Mrs. Gilmore, who is an Early College teacher and teaches college math, always had good advice for me. She has always been there when I needed help. I feel that she goes beyond just teaching.”

“This whole process has been a journey for both of us, and we look forward to graduating together,” she said. “We have supported each other through this adventure. What is funny is that we did not plan it this way.”