GNTC graduate overcomes barriers to earn his achievements

As a child, Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) student Sean Mullins was told all of the things he would never be able to do because he could not see. He says he has been proving them wrong ever since.

Mullins, who has been blind since birth, will graduate with an associate degree in Business Management. The Rome native has previously earned Marketing Specialist, Supervisor/Manager Specialist and Technical Management Specialist certificates from GNTC. The Fall Commencement Ceremony will take place on Thursday, Dec. 14, at the Dalton Convention Center at 6 p.m.

“You’ve got to prove your worth,” Mullins, 21, said. “I don’t let my blindness stop me. Nothing has been handed to me; I’ve worked for everything in my life. I enjoy working for things.”

Mullins said he can perceive lightness, darkness and shadows, but his cane serves as his eyes. He attended the Helen Keller School in Talladega, Ala., for two years as a young child.

He returned to Rome to attend Johnson Elementary School, he said. He graduated with high honors from Model High School.

He opted to take Business Management courses online at GNTC’s Floyd County Campus because the field offers a variety of career options, he said. He decided to specialize in Marketing because he could give credibility to products to assist the blind.

“More people will probably buy a product for blind people if a blind person is the spokesperson for it,” Mullins said. “More people are going to buy your product if they connect with you and understand you.”

He has worked in the food industry in the past, but after graduation he would like to pursue a career where he can use his degree and certifications in an office or government setting, he said.

“I look forward to working my way up to be a manager or supervisor,” he said.

Mullins said he lives a full life. He is active on social media and has been going to the gym for two years; his mother and grandfather provide transportation for him when he does not take a taxi.

“I’ve always been good about time management, but at GNTC I had to prioritize my time so that I could maintain a good work/life/study balance.”

Mullins is proud to have attended GNTC and says it has something that could interest everyone. The instructors have been responsive and supportive.

Mark Upton, program director and instructor of Marketing Management at GNTC, said his wife taught Mullins at Model Middle School in Rome, where he was “one of her favorite all-time students.”

Upton taught Mullins in four classes and found him to be an excellent student. Mullins gave an impressive sales presentation, which is the final project in the Professional Selling course, Upton said.

“I’m amazed by Sean’s perseverance and tenacity to complete his goals,” Upton said, adding that Mullins is undaunted by challenges. “With his work ethic and willingness to keep working hard, he can achieve anything.”

Upton is proud to have been part of Mullins’ journey at GNTC and looks forward to seeing what the graduate will achieve in the future.

“Sean consistently exhibited an outstanding level of participation in class, contributing thoughtfully to discussions,” said Leyner D. Argueta, program director and instructor of Business Management at GNTC. “His unwavering positivity was contagious, creating an uplifting atmosphere within the weekly discussions.”

Argueta said, “It was truly a joy to witness the encouragement he brought to the entire class.”

Mullins said the Youth Success Academy and Accessibility Services at GNTC have been a great support for him. Accessibility Services was vigilant to his needs and worked with Mullins to provide class accommodations when computer programs were not user-friendly.

Tammy Pence, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act youth specialist at GNTC, said she has mentored and advised Mullins since August 2021 when he contacted her about the Youth Success Academy’s Individual Training Account (ITA) program that assists with college tuition, books and supplies. After confirming his eligibility, she helped him through orientation, discussing his career goals, barriers to success and how to use the resources he has to accomplish his goals.

“When I first met Sean, I was quickly drawn to his very engaging personality,” Pence said. “He didn’t mind talking about his challenges, but I never got the sense that he was going to let anything hold him back. I loved his determination.”

“His story is helping people. His actions are helping other people,” Pence said. “As I watched him, I often felt that he was more of an encouragement to me than I was to him.”

The Youth Success Academy (YSA) supported Mullins by helping to pay for tuition costs not covered by financial aid, paying for his GNTC fees and providing all of his e-books, Pence said. YSA also provides a stipend to help with transportation costs and other expenses while students are in the program.

The Youth Success Academy at GNTC is funded through a partnership with Northwest Georgia Regional Commission to provide resources for young people in our area. It is offered at the Floyd County Campus in Rome and Walker County Campus in Rock Spring