Maleah Woodley didn’t think she was a shoo-in to be named the Class of 2018’s student speaker. “I came from a high school where I was one of six black students,” Woodley said. “I always stood out, but not in a good way. I felt like I was always getting into trouble just for being me. I’m creative and have a lot to say and am outspoken and that wasn’t looked upon kindly in high school. At Shoreline, it’s been different.”
That difference has allowed Woodley to start seeing herself in a new light. “The faculty and staff know what sort of culture they want on campus,” Woodley said. “Being chosen as speaker means I embody that culture they aspire to have, which is very humbling. Shoreline is super diverse, and at the college I got the message that ‘here we’re all important and it’s ok to be you and speak your mind and what you have to say is valuable.’ That’s been a big shift for me.”
The shift was furthered by her success in Shoreline’s Honors College. “I joined the Honors College because anytime someone offers me an opportunity I say yes,” Woodley said. “I see it as a challenge to do more, be better. What I didn’t expect was the positive community I found in the Honors College. The faculty give 110% to help their students succeed, and they really recognized me and supported me in so many different aspects, it was humbling.”
Woodley admits the recognition from faculty led her to develop a case of imposter syndrome. “Is this really me they’re talking about and encouraging and supporting and telling I can be successful?” she said. “But I got over it and have learned to see myself the way the faculty see me—as someone who can be a leader.”
The first in her immediate family to earn a degree, Woodley studied sociology at Shoreline and hopes to go on to study communications or broadcast journalism at a four-year university in California. “I’d like to get into acting,” Woodley said. “I’m interested in social movements and activism and I feel like, if I had a platform, I could be a positive role model.”
Her career as a role model has already begun. As the older sister of two brothers, it was extremely important to her to earn a degree to show her brothers they too could succeed in college. And Woodley has done more than succeed. While participating in the Honors College and being a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, she was also a utility player for the Shoreline Dolphins softball team and held a part-time job as a personal trainer.
Her hard work earned her multiple scholarships and recognitions, including a College Bound scholarship, a Rick Kaminski Memorial Athletic Scholarship through the Shoreline Community College Foundation, Northwest Athletic Conference Academic Excellence recognition, appointment to the 2018 All-WA Academic Team, and being named Shoreline’s female athlete of the year for the 2017-2018 season.
Woodley was also voted most inspirational by her softball teammates, earning the moniker after a torn ACL sidelined her for the majority of the 2017-18 season. Being benched didn’t bench her spirit, and she attended games to cheer for her team because, as she put it, “I had to push through wanting to play but not being able to and just be happy and positive for the team. It’s not about me, it’s about us.”
Part of Woodley’s success at Shoreline was her willingness to remain open to the experiences college could offer. “I never settled for doing something I didn’t want to do, and I wasn’t afraid to try new things,” she said. “I would tell new students to not be afraid to say yes for fear of failure or the unknown and just branch out of your comfort zone. This campus is super diverse and there are so many people and experiences you can engage with.”
Woodley also had a message for her fellow graduates, which she delivered at Shoreline’s 2018 Commencement ceremony on Thurs., June 21. “We didn’t earn our degrees and now we’re done,” Woodley said. “We spent two or more years here learning about our passions and what we care about and stand for and now it’s our job to spread the word about what we know. Don’t doubt yourself and keep setting the standard higher and higher so you keep succeeding.”
The student speaker also had some advice on imposter syndrome. “Move away from thinking you’re not a leader and learn to see yourself how other people see you—as someone of value and someone with something to say and contribute.”
Woodley gave this charge to the 347 students attending the 2018 Commencement, the largest group of students to participate in the ceremony in Shoreline’s history.
Learn more about Shoreline’s University Transfer programs and The Honors College.