Rio Salado College’s Class of 2025 featured students from all walks of life. Many of them were students who triumphed over great adversity and personal hardship to earn their well-deserved degrees. One of these students is Rachel Blevins, who came to Rio Salado with a burning desire to help others clear the same seemingly-insurmountable issues that she had to overcome.
Born and raised in Phoenix, Blevins was inspired to continue her education thanks to word of mouth from a trusted source.
“I chose Rio because it was affordable and a friend recommended it,” Blevins said.
Blevins had been working toward a degree since 1997 but put off her learning over the years to handle familial obligations, focus on work, and deal with other challenges.
Enrolling in 2020, Blevins pursued her education during a fraught moment in life.
“Times were unpredictable— balancing the challenges of the Covid epidemic, working two jobs, and being a single mother,” Blevins said. “I had to develop a routine that fit in with working two jobs, which meant doing my reading and studying during downtime at my day job and doing assignments by Friday. Despite these factors, I decided to attend Rio Salado online part-time. Taking online classes was perfect for me because I could move at my own pace.”
Reflecting on her experiences with online learning, Blevins offers this advice to new Rio students: “Stay disciplined and find a study routine that works for you.”
Blevins completed several programs by the end of her time at Rio, earning an Associates in Applied Science while also completing two certificate programs: Level 1 and Level 2 in Addictions and Substance Use Disorders. Blevins, who works as a case manager/behavioral health technician for the SMI (Serious Mental Illness), was drawn to this program for more than just professional interest.
“I chose this program because I’m in recovery myself and I felt called to counsel others on that path,” Blevins said. "This degree means the world to me, as I am a recovering addict/alcoholic, with eleven years of sobriety. Having experienced addiction firsthand, and being fortunate enough to overcome that darkness, ignited a passion in me to help other addicts."
The hard work and dedication Blevins put into her studies paid off. She leaves Rio Salado with a deeper bench of knowledge and skills to draw from and is eager to continue helping others.
“It gave me the knowledge I need to facilitate Substance Use Disorder (SUD) group therapy and it taught me various therapeutic theories and techniques that I use as a behavior health technician.”
When asked about her favorite Rio classes, Blevins looked back fondly on some of her General Studies courses.
“I loved psychology because I am fascinated with how the brain functions. I also loved the forensic science class because it satisfied my inner crime scene investigator.”
Looking ahead, Blevins plans to continue her studies while focusing on her professional ambitions.
“I am looking to move into a leadership role at my current job and eventually own a treatment center for women,” Blevins said. “I know there will be more degrees in my future, but most importantly, I am dedicated to helping other addicts achieve long-term sobriety.”
Article by Austin Brietta
Meet The Class of 2025
Interested in learning more about this year’s graduates? Check out some of our other student profiles from this year’s Commencement.