Meet Cassie Cornelius – an NWTC student who radiates the positive energy and assurance of someone who truly knows their worth.
A returning adult student in the IT Systems Administration, Cybersecurity, and Python programs, Cornelius is actively involved on campus as the chapter president of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and has received several student scholarships and awards (see “Leadership roles and accomplishments,” below) .
On track to graduate from NWTC in spring 2026, she plans to transfer to a university to pursue her bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity/IT management.
Cornelius’s self-confidence and success did not come easily. She grew up thinking of herself as “less-than” – struggling with untreated ADHD and an undiagnosed mental illness.
After high school, she attended a university. As a sophomore, she joined a sorority where she suppressed her indigenous identity and did everything she could to fit in with a predominantly white organization.
“Outside, I was this bubbly, energetic people pleaser who just wanted to get along with everyone,” she said. “In the privacy of my own apartment, however, I was a wreck.”
Withdrawing from college, she moved back home with her parents and, for the next decade of her journey, focused on climbing the corporate ladder in the customer service field.
Cornelius found success in the workforce over the years but felt unfulfilled. Then, the onset of the pandemic brought a surprising shift. She was laid off from her job at a community health clinic during the quarantine and felt isolated.
Thankfully, she found joy through a newfound gaming hobby and discovered ways for social interaction in the online communities, Twitch and Discord.
“I was exposed to different cultures and nationalities and realized I had become too complacent in my own life,” she said. “I’d forgotten how big the world really was and how much there was to learn and explore.”
As quarantine restrictions lifted, she obtained a job at a healthcare company call center. The job paid well and was fully remote – but she again felt stagnant in her career.
Inspired by her mother who had recently earned her college degree, Cornelius made the decision to return to school. After hearing stories about her gaming friends’ professional and personal lives, she enrolled in NWTC’s IT-Systems Administration program. She left her full-time job to focus on school.
She found part-time work as an office assistant in NWTC’s College of Business – a role that allowed Cornelius to focus on her studies without sacrificing financial stability. In addition, she discovered that obtaining a second degree in cybersecurity “wasn’t just an option, it was easily attainable.”
“Working at NWTC has shown me what it means to be in a place where students come first, and I am grateful to be part of that culture,” she said.
“Being where I am today, someone who is more sure of themselves, more accepting of themselves, and more confident than ever, I’m ready and eager to help others find their voice and confidence,” she added.
In April 2025, during an NWTC District Board of Trustees meeting, Cassie Cornelius (center) was honored as the College’s nominee for Achieving the Dream’s DREAM Scholars Program. Pictured with Cornelius are Dr. Kristen Raney, NWTC president, and Richard Stadelman, board chair.
Cornelius is chapter president of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. She has received the First Place Wisconsin Region Distinguished Chapter Officer Award and the Linda Duffy-Knox Student Leadership Scholarship. She was selected for the 2025 All-Wisconsin Academic Team presented by Phi Theta Kappa and the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. She has also recently been elected as vice president of the Wisconsin Student Government for the upcoming 2025-2026 academic year.
In addition, she is an officer on NWTC’s Student Leader Forum and is president of NWTC’s National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) chapter. She was awarded a mini grant from NAMI headquarters to plan a mental health awareness walk.
My journey has been shaped by several factors, and not all of them were positive. Starting in middle school, my untreated ADHD and bullying got so bad that my performance suffered. Despite my understanding and belief that the only way to escape poverty was through education, I became angry and defiant. As a young teenager who was not only struggling with an undiagnosed mental illness, I felt unheard and torn down not just by my peers, but teachers and administration as well.
It should be noted that in many multicultural families, mental health is often dismissed as a “white man’s concoction,” creating a dangerous misconception that I am dedicated to challenging. Many people who seek help to diagnose and treat their mental health conditions are told things like, “suck it up, it could be worse.” So many people my age know that we have these traumas, but we don’t understand how to heal from it.
Stigmas like these which surround mental health issues in non-white communities amplify the need for support and open dialogue. I didn’t see my first therapist until the age of 25. I spent many years unlearning all of the negative things I thought about myself, and although I still struggle with some aspects, I am more accepting of myself now than I was a decade ago. I am also equipped better to communicate, set personal boundaries, and even to assist others in their journeys by sharing mine.
In-person and virtual mental health counseling is available for all NWTC students. Learn more.
From left to right: Cassie Cornelius, her mother, and her sister. (Submitted photo)
My Mother
She has always demonstrated unwavering resilience, working tirelessly to provide for our family and achieve her own goals no matter the obstacles placed in her way. She is a shining beacon for me because she exemplifies a person’s ability to learn and grow at every point in their lives. She recently graduated with an associate degree from the NWTC Event Management program. Her never-ending drive to always better herself is truly an inspiration and such an amazing example for not just me and our family, but for everyone at every age. She taught me the importance of building a strong support system – you never know when you’ll need to lean on others or when they’ll need to lean on you.
My Sister
A single mother and fiercely independent woman, my sister has always spoken out against injustice and advocated for herself and others. While I was still finding my voice, she was amplifying it. She’s always been and continues to be a beacon of positivity and balance in our family, oftentimes being a mediator during times of disagreement. Her ability to find joy in life despite challenges inspires me every day. Like our mother, she would sometimes go without just so my nephew had nice things and fun experiences. She’s become my best friend, my confidant, and my self-healing journey partner. I know with absolute certainty that I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for her.
Up until very recently, I believed I wasn’t “enough” for anything. I wasn’t successful enough to celebrate my accomplishments. I wasn’t struggling enough to have the right to complain or ask for help. I hadn’t overcome enough adversity to consider myself worthy of recognition.
I can now feel confident in saying I am proud of the person I have become and who I have yet to become. I now see myself as more than capable, not only of success but also leading and uplifting others.
Several aspects of my identity have profoundly influenced my academic journey. As a neurodivergent indigenous woman in a male-dominated field, I am constantly reminded of the importance of advocating for underrepresented voices.
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