Cady Weldon turns persistence into permanence
By Carter Ward
After building her way back into school and finding her footing, Cady Weldon reached a point this semester when college finally felt steady.
“I actually remember at the beginning of this semester, I excitedly went to my long-term partner and was like, I know someone, at least one person, in all of my classes,” said Weldon. “And that’s when it dawned on me that this is the first time I’ve ever been at a school longer than two years.”
That realization carried weight. Weldon was born with a significant hearing impairment and has worn hearing aids since she was 3. She also aged out of foster care, moving through environments that did not always offer long-term stability. When she entered UAH as an accounting major, she was aware that only a small percentage of former foster youth complete a four-year degree. Maintaining a 4.0 GPA and earning a place on the President’s List every semester became part of her commitment.
The same determination shaped how Weldon approaches leadership. She used to see herself as more of a follower and did not think she had strong leadership skills, but that changed during a business communications group project. Worried about the team’s progress and knowing her grade depended on it, she stepped up. From there, she suggested a timeline with shared responsibilities and helped the group prepare for the presentation.
The group earned the highest grade in the class, and her teammates later thanked her for organizing and motivating them.
Weldon’s growth continued beyond the classroom. She works as a tutor at Calhoun Community College’s Student Success Center, supporting students in accounting, economics, business communications and college writing. She said tutoring has strengthened her own understanding of accounting by requiring her to articulate concepts clearly.
“You realize kind of your own gaps in understanding when you’re trying to explain a concept. It really helps to frame it in a way to teach that will help someone learn.”
On campus, she serves on the Enhanced Teaching and Learning Center Student Advisory Group, where she offers her perspective as a student with a hearing disability. She is also the treasurer of the Accounting Connections and Conversations Club and will be taking on the role of vice president beginning in the fall semester, contributing to engagement within the College of Business.
Returning to school after a long gap felt uncertain at first. Weldon said relearning how to study seemed “really daunting,” and she initially thought, “There’s no way I can do this.” She chose to persist.
When progress feels slow, she reminds herself she is “working towards something more long-term that’s really important.”
Looking ahead, Weldon said she hopes people remember how she made them feel.
“People won’t remember what you said, they’ll remember how you made them feel. I hope that when they think of me, they remember that I helped them feel encouraged, supported, or at least that I was an influence in some way.”
At UAH, Weldon’s experience reflects sustained academic performance, leadership involvement and service. For her, the most meaningful change has been building steadiness where there once was uncertainty.
