Following her military service, Wendy Antal dedicated herself to staying home with her three children. Enrolling in Laurel Ridge was something she wanted to do for herself.
“Now that my kids are all adults, I just wanted to have something of my own,” said Antal.
She was interested in learning how she could use her veteran’s benefits to train for civilian employment. As soon as she met with veteran academic advisor Jeanmarie Corrado, she knew Laurel Ridge was the right place for her.
Antal was a frequent user of the Veterans Center on the Fauquier Campus – the Middletown Campus has one, as well. It’s a place where veterans can share fellowship, grab coffee and snacks, use the computers and do some free printing.
“I came here many a time,” said Antal. “When my son was younger and had a bunch of appointments, I would come here and work on schoolwork. It helped out a lot.”
Her youngest son, Buck, 20, has attended Laurel Ridge previously and has plans to continue to do so. She appreciates the extra support Buck, who has a physical disability, received. Antal’s other children are Harley, 28, and Patricia, 23.
“The way Laurel Ridge supports, accommodates and just provides the students with answers really shows that they’re so motivated to help students thrive and grow,” said Antal, who is a Florida native.
When she first enrolled at Laurel Ridge, Antal thought she wanted to become a clinical psychologist. Realizing the schooling required for that would be extensive, she pivoted. Antal recognized that she enjoyed working with people and helping them to meet their goals.
In July, Antal, who is earning her associate degree in general studies, will embark on a certificate program to become an executive and professional coach.
One of her favorite professors at Laurel Ridge was Professor Sharon Schoolcraft, who she had for quantitative reasoning.
“Not many math professors can speak in a language that fits the students’ learning styles,” said Antal, who lives in Bealeton. “She could just go back and forth – one student would be a visual learner, and another wouldn’t be. She met them where they were at. I was in awe of her. It was a hard class, but I learned a lot.”
Another favorite faculty member was Alyson Thompson, who Antal had for public speaking.
“That was one class that I didn’t think I was going to enjoy,” she said. “It was different than I had expected. Writing speeches is the polar opposite of writing essays or research papers. It was a lot of fun.
“Though I pursued this path for myself, I couldn’t have done it without the support and encouragement of my family and dear friends, especially my father, Ernie, who raised me through his love of education and drive to have fun with everything you do.”
Attending Laurel Ridge is about more than just academics, said Antal, who is giving this year’s commencement speech.
“We come here to take our educational courses not just to learn the subject, but to have practical skills that we need in life to be successful and bond our community together,” she said. “That’s what I learned here.
“Don’t undersell your experience at a community college. The connections are a lot more intimate and there’s something to be said for that. I’ve never done anything like this before. The people here and the relationships that I’ve made will be something that I won’t forget.”
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.