Kelly Henshaw ’12

I considered myself a confident person prior to enrolling in the One Day A Week College at Bay Path. However, after graduation, I realized that what it means to be confident is much more than simply being yourself.

I came to Bay Path after earning my associate’s degree at a local community college and found right away that the demands of a bachelor’s degree program are much stronger than that of a two-year degree. Working full-time while also being a dedicated student in the One Day program really tested my drive and endurance. But Bay Path’s motto, “Carpe Diem,” was the perfect way to describe each moment I spent on campus. If I was feeling tired or down, all I had to do to pick myself up again was look around the classroom at the amazing women I was surrounded by who also worked full-time and had families to care for, but still gave their all to learning and growing. It was truly inspiring.

Memorably, I overcame my fear of public speaking by taking a class specific to building that skill. For many people, getting up in front of others and delivering a speech that’s thoughtful and organized while coming off as poised and personable is a daunting task. My first speech was terrible—I stumbled over my words and felt out of place. But, not only did I receive supportive feedback from my fellow classmates, they talked me down from my fears and offered guidance. By the end of the semester, I was flourishing at the podium.

Now I work as a full-time ophthalmic scribe in Holyoke, MA alongside a well-known and respectable ophthalmologist, and in my spare time, I’m a film producer with a local film production company called Happy Wasteland Studios. I recently finished producing a film, “Heroes Don't Come Home,” which had its world premiere in the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on June 8, 2016.

I got involved in filmmaking in early 2012 when I joined the Northampton Screenwriting Group in Northampton, MA. During the meetings, participants bring scripts they’ve written for others in the group to read aloud and provide feedback. There, I met Wade Wofford and Mike Haas, who established Happy Wasteland Studios with my now husband, and asked me to produce “Heroes Don't Come Home.”

Once we started pre-production (the time leading up to filming), we used social media to spread the word, and had family, friends, and fans share our posts to help us reach more people. We received an extraordinary amount of local support, including a front-page article in our local newspaper and spots on radio and TV stations across the region. And thanks to Bay Path, I was able to articulate my passion for the project and share it with others who got excited about it too, making it a real success.

My education has molded me into a person I'm proud of. I learned the power of being able to use my own voice to communicate effectively and support those around me. In doing so, I believe you can create an environment overflowing with success and positivity. I now know true confidence means succeeding together—staying positive and celebrating the achievements of those around you just as much as you celebrate your own.