From the photo lab to the pharmacy, CCRI alumna Roques completes remarkable journey
June 3, 2022
More than a decade after beginning her journey as a Photo Specialist at Walgreens,
first-generation Community College of Rhode Island alumna Michelle Roques is now behind
the pharmacy counter as a Registered Pharmacist (RPh), recently accepting a new position
at Anthony's Pharmacy in Providence where the one-on-one interaction with customers
fuels her passion for healthcare.
The 31-year-old Providence, RI, resident and Class of 2016 graduate earned her associate
degree at CCRI in Business Administration and Management, after which she decided
to pursue a career in pharmacy. She remained at CCRI for the next two years to complete
her prerequisites for pharmacy, then transferred to the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy
and Health Sciences, where she earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2021.
Growing up, Roques dreamt of a career helping others. After graduating Classical High
School in 2008, she enrolled at Lincoln Technical Institute’s Dental Assistant School, but soon realized dentistry wasn’t her passion. Transitioning to customer
service, Roques worked her way up the ladder at Walgreens, landing a position as a
supervisor, which piqued her interest in business management.
Two years after the birth of her first child, she enrolled at CCRI to pursue her Business
degree while continuing to work full time at Walgreens. During that time, a job opening
for a Pharmacy Technician became available; eyeing an opportunity to get back into
healthcare, Roque earned her Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) designation and
began working behind the counter as a Pharmacy Tech. The new position was an eye-opener.
“Becoming a Pharmacy Tech changed everything,” Roques said. “It gave me insight into
how I could do more to help people who needed it. I found my path.”
With help from CCRI’s Impact Initiatives Manager Tanekar Alexander, Roques began the
process of transitioning to an entirely new career. Alexander provided sound advice,
helping Roques discover what her options were for transferring in addition to carving
the quickest path possible toward finishing her prerequisites at CCRI. In 2018, Roques
officially transferred to MCPHS, beginning the next step in the journey to her dream
job.
“Tanekar was such a valuable resource for me throughout this process,” Roques said.
“No matter what I needed help with, she was always there for me.”
The path to her doctorate degree wasn’t always easy, but with support from friends,
family, and her advisors at CCRI, Roques remained positive and never settled for less
than what she knew she deserved, a message she hopes her three children take with
them when they as they continue along their own educational paths.
“I never stopped,” said Roques, who has an 8-year-old, a 10-year-old, and a 15-year-old
stepson at home. “There were times when I felt overwhelmed, but I always had the end
goal in mind. You can’t quit. You can’t settle.
“You just have to be determined.”
“CCRI provided you with everything you need to take that next step. I had two kids
while I was in school, so being able to take night classes while my mother or husband
took care of them was extremely helpful. Even weekend classes – their flexibility
is incredible.
“The professors at CCRI genuinely want you to succeed,” Roques continued. “They stay
after class to help you if you need it, or their doors are always open during office
hours. And the assistance they provide to first-generation college students like myself
is so beneficial. I would recommend CCRI to anyone. I didn’t need to go anywhere else
to finish my prerequisites. Everything is available to you at CCRI.”
In her new role at Anthony’s, she will have the opportunity to work more directly
with customers, many of whom grew up in or live in the same community she did. More
importantly, she’s a continuous inspiration at home, where she hopes her hard work
and never-say-never attitude motivate her children to achieve greatness.
“If anything, I did this for them,” Roques said. “I want them to look up to their
parents and say, ‘Wow, my mom did it and she did it while we were young. If she can,
so can we.’”
Share this story
Latest News
CCRI Foundation and Alumni Association elects two new members to its Board of Trustees
April 26, 2024
The CCRI Foundation and Alumni Association have elected Sergio Sousa, Regional Vice President of Marketing for Bally’s Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort and Bally’s Tiverton Casino & Hotel to the Alumni Association Assembly, and Rhode Island attorney, Rebecca E. Dupras, Esq., of Dupras Law, to the Board of Trustees.
Read More
CCRI Players close out the semester with production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown
April 24, 2024
Written in 1967 by Clark Gesner, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a musical based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in his comic strip Peanuts – a perfect opportunity for the Players to end the year on a light-hearted note following a stretch of heavy, thought-provoking performances dating back to 2021.
Read More
Broadway tour members visit Providence Campus next week to discuss life on the road
April 17, 2024
Students interested in a career in performing arts will have a unique opportunity next week to learn about life on the road from two well-traveled industry experts, Jay Carey and Christopher DeAngelis from the Broadway musical Company, during a free Q&A session at CCRI’s Providence Campus Theatre on Wednesday, April 24 at 4 pm.
Read More
First cohort of trainees graduates CCRI's GWO-certified Basic Safety Training program
April 11, 2024
Thirty-nine local residents are the first to complete the Global Wind Organisation (GWO)-certified Basic Safety Training curriculum at the state’s only offshore wind safety training center and are prepared to continue building fulfilling careers in America’s fast-growing offshore wind sector.
Read More
Class of 2022 grad Tavares gains acceptance into prestigious Juilliard School to pursue acting
April 01, 2024
Less than a year after wrapping up a life-changing fellowship with The Gamm Theatre, 22-year-old Pawtucket, RI, native and Class of 2022 graduate Eddy Tavares is one of only a small percentage of applications who were accepted into Juilliard's four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program in Drama beginning in the Fall of 2024.
Read More
Unwilling to give up her dream, New Century Scholar Grace pursues a career in Archaeology
March 28, 2024
After an on-again, off-again journey to further her education, West Warwick, RI, native Kelly Grace earned the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society's 2024 New Century Transfer Scholarship for the state of Rhode Island, awarding her $2,250 toward her pursuit of a career in Archaeology.
Read More
CCRI earns Military Friendly® School designation for the third year in a row
March 27, 2024
The Community College of Rhode Island has been named a 2024–25 Military Friendly® School by VIQTORY, a data-driven military company that helps connect the military community to civilian employment.
Read More
Insurance training grad makes investment in herself to break into a satisfying new career
March 26, 2024
Dorchester, MA, native and current Johnston, RI, resident Shamika Lyte initially worked in the construction industry fresh out of high school, but, thanks to CCRI's free Property and Casualty Insurance certification program, has found new life in a career that keeps her on her toes.
Read More
Social Sciences professor McCormack continues work to teach year-round inclusivity at CCRI
March 20, 2024
While February is known for the celebration of Black History Month and June is synonymous with Pride Month, among others, Suzanne McCormack works every day to ensure her students understand the importance of inclusivity and diversity while integrating such topics into her teachings throughout the year.
Read More
Budding artist and Promise scholar uses newfound ability to earn South Coast grant
March 19, 2024
Jonathan Colombo, a second-year Rhode Island Promise scholar and Fine Arts major with a concentration in Art, was recently named the South Coast Artists' 2024 Youth Grant Award of Merit recipient – one of several grants awarded annually to motivated high school and college students under the age of 21 to explore their artistic potential beyond the everyday classroom setting.
Read More
Former Student Ambassador and Class of '18 grad De La Cruz earns prestigious Emerging Leader Award
March 18, 2024
Mileiry “Milly” De La Cruz, a Class of 2018 alumna and former Student Ambassador at CCRI, is the recipient of this year’s American Council on Education (ACE) Women’s Network Massachusetts Emerging Leader Award for her hard work and dedication to serving students.
Read More
Renowned director Pitts-Wiley joins CCRI Players for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
February 28, 2024
The CCRI Players are collaborating with director Jonathan Pitts-Wiley this week for a special production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, a novel written by Ken Kesey that was later adapted into the historic 1975 film starring Jack Nicholson that went on to win all five major Academy Awards the year it was released.
Read More
Secretary of Education Cardona visits CCRI to advocate for more statewide CTE training
February 21, 2024
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona visited the Community College of Rhode Island’s Warwick Campus today to discuss the need for more career pathways and career and technical education (CTE) programming and apprenticeships, especially in Latino communities, as part of Joe Biden’s President Joe Biden's Investing in America Tour, aimed to demonstrate how President Biden is delivering for underrepresented or minoritized communities across the country.
Read More
CCRI teams with city of Providence to host the 2024 Pell Lecture Series
February 14, 2024
CCRI is teaming with Providence Mayor Brett P. Smiley and the Providence Department of Art, Culture and Tourism to host for the first time the 2024 Pell Lecture Series, set to take place Thursday, March 7 at the Liston Auditorium in Providence.
Read More
CCRI appoints new CIO, Director of Enterprise Applications to IT division
February 12, 2024
The college has announced the hiring of James Bradley as the new Chief Information Officer and Rajeev Jayadeva as its Director of Enterprise Applications.
Read More
Upcoming Events
Mar.
18
March 18, 2024 All Day
Flanagan Campus
Mar.
23
March 23, 2024 All Day
Apr.
18
April 18, 2024 3:00 PM - June 27, 2024 3:30 PM
Woonsocket Education Center (WOC)
Apr.
26
April 26, 2024 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Knight Campus
Apr.
28
April 28, 2024 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM
East Providence High School
Apr.
28
April 28, 2024 8:00 PM - 8:21 PM
Online
Apr.
29
April 29, 2024 All Day
Apr.
29
April 29, 2024 All Day
Woonsocket Education Center (WOC)
Apr.
29
April 29, 2024 All Day
Apr.
30
April 30, 2024 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Knight Campus