Rochelle Gould – Computer Science & Graphic Arts
Chasing Dreams after the Storm: Rochelle Gould’s Journey from Katrina to College Success
Rochelle Gould is a computer science and graphic arts student at Baton Rouge Community College (BRCC). Although Rochelle always desired to attend college, life’s circumstances didn’t make it an easy road to travel. One life-changing moment happened when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. At the time, Rochelle was 17-years-old and in her senior year of high school.
“My family and I spent a week outside on the Riverwalk before we were rescued,” said Rochelle. “Afterward, we moved to Texas, leaving behind everything familiar to us, our home, friends, and extended family. It was difficult adjusting because we moved around a lot. It was me, my mom, and my three brothers trying to figure out life in a completely new place.”
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), Hurricane Katrina was the costliest hurricane to ever make landfall in the United States. It’s among the five deadliest hurricanes in our nation’s history. In total, Hurricane Katrina claimed 1,833 fatalities and caused billions of dollars in damage.
“Not having stability eventually led me to drop out of high school,” said Rochelle. “Even though I wanted to go back to school, life took me in a different direction.”
After several years of relocating, Rochelle and her family returned to Louisiana. Instead of returning to high school, Rochelle immediately jumped into the workforce. However, she still had a strong desire to complete high school and enroll in college.
“I got married and had children, and for a while, I thought college wasn’t in the cards for me,” said Rochelle. “I finally made the decision to get my GED, and from there, everything started to change, and life began to move quickly.”
Rochelle credits her husband and children for encouraging her to pursue her dreams of going to college. They reminded her that she deserved to do something for myself and to continue to pursue the dreams she had put on hold. With her family’s support, Rochelle was encouraged to navigate through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic to attain her GED. Her next step was to find a college with a good academic and faculty support structure since she had been out of school for more than a decade. BRCC proved to be the perfect fit for her continued academic development.
Rochelle has always had a passion for graphic design, and she cites her teenage son’s enthusiasm for coding and designing as inspiring her to learn more about computer science. She mentioned two classes that had a profound impact on her career aspect. Logic and Design for Computer Science and Graphic Arts opened her eyes to her passion for technology.
“There was so much I didn’t know, but learning it was exciting and rewarding,” said Rochelle. “I love creating whether it’s designing clothes, graphics, or bringing new ideas to life. As I continued to grow in this field, I realized how important technology is to design. I knew I wanted to build a career that could bring both together.”
Rochelle believes she was selected as one of the Faces of BRCC because of her passion and personal story. She hopes her journey, from dropping out of high school to becoming an honor student, will inspire others to pursue their goals.
“One of my biggest challenges that I had to overcome was balancing it all,” said Rochelle. “Being a mother, working full-time, and going to school was difficult at first. But with the support of my family and the resources at BRCC, it really helped me.”
Rochelle’s journey hasn’t been easy, but it’s one she and her family are incredibly proud of her accomplishments. Her encouraging words: “It’s never too late to chase your dream.” Rochelle plans to graduate in May 2026 and continue her education at a four-year university. She aspires to own a business that will combine her computer science skills with my graphic design talents.