Glacier grad still eyeing criminal justice career

Editor’s note: The Daily Inter Lake is following up with six young adults who were profiled as high school seniors in a series recognizing noteworthy graduates from the Class of 2016 that highlighted students who turned challenges into personal triumphs.

By HILARY MATHESON

Daily Inter Lake

Resiliency means learning to adapt, and in Von-Cedric Graham’s life he is continuing to do just that as his plans change.

“You have to go with the flow and adapt,” Graham, 19, said. “You don’t know what life is going to throw at you.”

After graduating from Glacier High School, Graham attended the University of Montana on a tuition waiver, but he still had to get a job to cover living expenses. After a semester of dividing his focus between school and work he decided to delay college, move back to Kalispell and work full time to save up money.

When he starts taking classes again he wants to enroll at Flathead Valley Community College to get his general education out of the way before returning to the university.

Graham said it’s frustrating to put college on hold, but he is certain that his decision will set him up for success.

“I want to have money ahead of time to pay for school so I can have 100 percent of my focus on that,” he said.

Graham said he was glad to have had the experience of living on the university campus and holds onto that as a future goal.

“It’s a big world and there are a lot of experiences out there,” Graham said. “After living in Missoula myself I would definitely suggest trying it out. It was a challenging experience you don’t forget.”

He still wants to study criminal justice and go into law enforcement, possibly joining the Highway Patrol and following in the footsteps of his father, Montana Highway Patrol Trooper David Graham, who was killed in a vehicle collision while on patrol in Evergreen on Oct. 9, 2007. At the time, Von-Cedric Graham was just 9 years old.

“I remember his smile,” he said. “I feel more proud of him as time passes.”

While his father died on duty, Graham isn’t worried about his safety if he ultimately decides to join the patrol.

“I want to help people in need. Part of it is how you’re raised,” Graham said about the desire to help others. “The integrity to do the right thing when no one’s watching — I get a good feeling from it.”

Young adulthood has also meant smoothing out a family rift that spans back to high school when he decided to move out of his mother’s house to live with a friend’s family during his senior year.

“I’m actually talking to my mom and being able to see my brother and sister a lot more, which is awesome,” Graham said.

By talking more often with his mother and sharing family meals together, he is slowly rebuilding a sense of family.

“I think it was just time,” Graham said about mending past difficulties and differences. “Time and space to let things cool down. Get past this and move on. We’re supposed to be a family.”

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.