Entering the final stretch of her college journey
Plus: CMS bans 3-ring binders; Unemployment rate inches up; New podcast on Plaza Midwood's changes; Nightclub owner pleads guilty to money-laundering; Fall festival planning; Panthers score TD
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Checking in with Anisha Sunuwar, a first-generation college student from Garinger High, as she prepares for her senior year at UNC Greensboro
Anisha Sunuwar has grown from an apprehensive college freshman to a confident senior. This school year, she’ll be working toward landing a career in public health or a higher-ed degree. (Photo courtesy of Anisha Sunuwar)
College students are in the midst of returning to campuses across North Carolina, so it’s time for an update with Anisha Sunuwar, a college student from Charlotte whom The Ledger has been following since 2020, when we wrote about the struggles of high-poverty Garinger High School during the pandemic.
Back then, Anisha was a high school senior honors student who had emigrated with her family from Nepal when she was 10. Our first article highlighted how she was juggling caring for her mom, who had a chronic illness, with working part-time and attending high school virtually.
Anisha was struggling with her many responsibilities, and she considered dropping out of high school. But seeing nurses care for her mother inspired her to want to forge a career in healthcare, to help others while providing stability for herself and her family.
A generous Ledger reader read about Anisha’s story in The Ledger and agreed to pay for her tuition and living expenses. Other Ledger readers offered money to ease her family’s financial burden. Anisha enrolled at UNC Greensboro and is the first in her family to go to college.
She’s about to enter her fourth year of college after a junior year marked by focus, leadership and growth.
Ledger managing editor Cristina Bolling caught up with Anisha earlier this month as she wrapped up a summer program to receive her Certified Nursing Assistant certification and as she was preparing to return to Greensboro for the start of the fall semester. The conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Q: You’re entering your senior year — home stretch! Fill us in on what your junior year was like and what you’ve been up to this summer.
The summer has been good. I took a course to get my CNA (certified nursing assistant) certification, just to leave me with more options. It was a four-week course, and this is my last week.
To go backward, junior year was really fun. If I had known in my freshman year what I would be doing junior year, I wouldn’t believe it. I had a job, so I was working, I was taking classes, and I was one of the board members of NSA (Nepali Student Association). I was the community outreach coordinator, and we hosted a lot of events and had collaborations with other clubs and raised money for charity.
Q: I remember when you were a freshman, and it was tough forging a social life, and joining clubs felt a little intimidating. How does it feel to be one of the people welcoming others in with NSA?
It feels really fun. I’m trying to be more involved [in the Nepali Student Organization] again next year, and to increase my responsibility and my roles for next year. I’m going to be a part of the board again, too.
Q: You mentioned that you had a job during your junior year. What kind of job?
I worked at the Sheraton [hotel], which was a 4- or 5-minute drive from campus. I worked there with a friend from NSA, and we did all kinds of things — we were wait staff at the restaurant, and I was a cashier. They were flexible with us, so we could work around our class schedules.
Q: How have classes been going? I recall that you switched your major from nursing to public health during your sophomore year. Are you staying on that track?
Ever since I switched to public health, it’s been really chill. I’ve been getting a lot of good grades. I’ve been succeeding in a lot of my classes with A’s and B’s.
In my senior year, I have to take more internship and planning classes. Second semester, I’ll be enrolled in an internship where I’ll get hands-on experience.
My goal was to get my CNA [Certified Nursing Assistant] right now, and then use that along with my bachelor’s degree to get a job in the medical field, in public health.
Q: And here you are, starting your senior year. What does that feel like?
It feels like yesterday I got the news that you were calling me and you were like, “Someone reached out” [about offering a scholarship]. And when I think about it, it’s so mind-blowing. It’s honestly really sad, because I don’t want it [college] to end.
It makes me feel really proud of myself, and I’m really thankful for the person that allowed me to be here and helped me financially.
Q: How’s your family doing? How’s your mom’s health?
My mom has been doing really good. She’s really back to her normal state, I would say, but only because of a medication she takes on a regular basis. She just went through a situation where she wasn’t getting her full Medicaid benefit, so I had to help her out with that.
She just became a U.S. citizen this summer. So, she’s really happy and excited about that.
Q: To wrap up — are you thinking ahead to graduation, and to what you’ll be doing this time next year?
Yeah, I don’t want to think about that. [Laughs] I’ve been thinking about getting a master’s in public health at UNC Greensboro. A friend who is one year ahead of me applied to the program and got accepted, so that kind of motivated me a little to pursue it, too.
Cristina Bolling is managing editor of The Ledger: cristina@cltledger.com
Related Ledger articles:
“Burdens multiply at a challenged high school” (Dec. 11, 2020)
“A brighter holiday for one high-school senior” (Dec. 23, 2020)
“She’ll be the first in her family to attend college” (May 8, 2021)
“A freshman year of challenges and triumphs” (May 14, 2022)
“A sophomore year of self-discovery” (June 10, 2023)
Today’s supporting sponsor is Carnegie Private Wealth. At Carnegie Private Wealth, we exist to make our clients’ lives easier. We provide planning and guidance to produce more clarity, less stress, and greater confidence around complex financial and investment decisions.
New in the schools: CMS bans metal 3-ring binders
With back-to-school shopping season in full swing, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools families are learning about a new rule that’s altering supply lists: metal 3-ring binders are not allowed in CMS schools this year.
The reason? Metal binders set off metal detectors that are now installed in the entrances to all CMS schools, creating false alarms and causing staff to have to search bags and creating backups in getting kids into school. (If you’ve ever seen the hordes of students pass through the metal detectors at big schools during peak morning arrival times, it’s impressive.)
CMS officials sent us this statement in response to questions about the metal binder ban:
As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance school safety and security, Charlotte- Mecklenburg Schools implemented measures to reduce the number of bag searches while increasing time to access breakfast and classroom instruction.
After thorough research, we have identified Metal 3-Ring binders, rolling backpacks and backpacks with metal frames as a main source of false alarms in our weapon detection systems. As a result, we have made the decision to request that these items not be brought into schools.
CMS officials did recommend some binder workarounds students can take to keep their papers organized in the new school year, noting that “suggested alternatives to assist our students include pocket folders, plastic 3-ring binders, or spiral and composition notebooks.” —CB
Ascendant: Charlotte’s women’s pro soccer team starts with a win
SOCCER WIN: Charlotte’s new women’s pro soccer team, the Carolina Ascent, won its first game 1-0 on Saturday in front of a sellout crowd of 10,553 at American Legion Memorial Stadium. (Photos by Kevin Young/The 5 and 2 Project)
🎧 New podcast: All about Plaza Midwood
Charlotte’s Plaza Midwood neighborhood is often known for its bars and restaurants. But it’s more than that: As one of Charlotte’s historic streetcar suburbs, Plaza Midwood is a diverse community that stays close-knit. It’s also undergoing a lot of change.
On the most recent episode of The Charlotte Ledger Podcast, host Steve Dunn talks with neighborhood leader Phil Gussman about the changes afoot in Plaza Midwood and what makes the area special. Gussman has helped spearhead community initiatives, advocating for smart development and ensuring that Plaza Midwood remains a vibrant, connected neighborhood.
The podcast is part of a series of interviews with recipients of The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Awards, which celebrate often unheralded people over the age of 40 who are making important contributions to Charlotte.
You might be interested in these Charlotte events
Events submitted by readers to The Ledger’s events board:
WEDNESDAY: “What Is Zoning? Why Do I Care?” 5-6:30 p.m., Envision Charlotte, 932 Seigle Ave. Join County Planning Commission Chairman Douglas Welton and Bryan Holladay, Charlotte Area Chamber Public Policy Chair, for an informal conversation on Charlotte’s growth and the process of how new development decisions happen. Free.
SEPT. 18: “Unveiling Mental Resilience with Alexi Pappas,” 7-8:30 p.m., CPCC’s Parr Center New Theater, 1201 Elizabeth Ave. Join Hopeway as we delve into the depths of mental resilience with acclaimed Olympic athlete, bestselling author and award-winning filmmaker Alexi Pappas. She will share her personal journey, weaving tales of triumph, resilience, and self-discovery. $35.
➡️ List your event on the Ledger events board.
In brief:
Money laundering plea: The owner of The Scorpio nightclub pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy charges, after being accused of agreeing to sell 20 luxury vehicles for cash to a known drug dealer and falsifying the buyer’s name in sales paperwork. The Scorpio is Charlotte’s oldest LGBTQ+ nightclub. (WBTV)
‘Safety concerns’ in Cherry cancel parade: Charlotte’s Cherry neighborhood is canceling its annual reunion and parade over Labor Day weekend because of “safety concerns” stemming from a drive-by shooting last month and continued “threats of retaliation,” according to an email sent to residents by neighborhood leaders on Sunday. “We would have been ‘Celebrating 133 Years of History, Heritage, and Community,’ but we simply cannot put those in our community and any attendees at risk,” the email said.
Charter school investors: Private equity investors are pouring money into North Carolina charter schools, a move proponents say is needed to expand options for students but that detractors say could create risks and a lack of oversight. (Observer)
Longtime restaurant closes: Beauregard’s Restaurant & Bar has closed after 50 years in business and is selling its building on Freedom Drive in west Charlotte. (Observer)
Fall festivals: Charlotte on the Cheap has the run-down on 35 fall festivals in the Charlotte area, from Matthews Alive, Festival in the Park, Yiasou Greek Festival and more.
Panthers score TD: The Carolina Panthers scored their first touchdown since December 2023, with a meaningless 2-yard run on the last play of the game Saturday by reserve running back Dillon Johnson in a 15-12 preseason loss to the New York Jets. (Observer)
Taking stock
Unless you are a day trader, checking your stocks daily is unhealthy. So how about weekly? How local stocks of note fared last week (through Friday’s close), and year to date:
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Executive editor: Tony Mecia; Managing editor: Cristina Bolling; Staff writer: Lindsey Banks; Business manager: Brie Chrisman
Banning 3-ring binders? WOW, I know I am old (76 years old). I am shaking my head at learning this news. How sad for our children to live in this society where going through metal detectors is how schools start every day. This action normalizes the violence in our society. Rather than take necessary steps to prevent violence we are accepting it as a way of life? The fear our children experience every day begins as they enter the school building. This puts kids on high alert and in a state of hyper vigilance before they even enter the classroom to begin learning.
This is traumatic for our children. It is not an environment I want for my grandchildren and for generations to come. I sadness I feel as I read this article is profound and deeply disturbing. Sigh.