
At 18, Katherine Nonte radiates an emotional maturity far beyond her age. Following her biological parents’ divorce, the Sterling Heights native and her sister were raised by their aunt and uncle, whom she refers to as her mother and father (and who will henceforth be referred to as such).
Throughout her early high school years, Nonte felt a lack of self-direction and suffered from depression and low self-esteem. She coasted along in school with middling grades; that is, until she failed a class. Having hit a low point, she realized the need to set herself on the path to wellness and opened up to a teacher.
“Here’s what you’re going to do: You’re going to fix it the way you know how,” expressed her instructor. Cautioning that it would take time, she advised Nonte to look in the mirror and say, “I’m fixing it. I’m fixing it for me.”
Slowly, Nonte began to work on herself, improve her GPA, and set a path forward. She came to Macomb, decided on a career path, and started to build personal connections.
“This is a great stepping stone,” says Nonte, “because every single person who starts out at a university goes, ‘I wish I would have started at community college.’”
Among the highlights of Nonte’s experiences at Macomb, thus far, are the helpful instructors who look outside the textbook to ensure students understand the material. She adds that they provide a multitude of resources to further ensure their success.
“You give me a good adjective, and I could probably put it toward every single experience I’ve had at Macomb.”
Outside of school, Nonte enjoys running cross country and dabbling in music. In fact, she can play more instruments than you can name on one hand, including: saxophone (both tenor and alto), trumpet, euphonium, flute, guitar, ukulele, piano, bagpipes and accordion. But don’t call her a prodigy.
“I don’t even call it that, because it’s every once in a while,” notes Nonte. Due to school, work, family and her boyfriend, she isn’t able to spend as much time practicing as she would prefer. Nonetheless, she’s taken the time to name each of her instruments, to which she feels a “certain connection,” treating them “more like people, rather than just things.”
Nonte’s mother bestowed upon her an acute appreciation of the musical arts, exposing her to all genres. Growing up, they frequented the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Fisher Theatre and the opera. In addition to her aptitude for various instruments, she’s also a proficient vocalist. Every Tuesday, she sings in an a capella chorus, Sweet Adelines, an all-female group. Ages range from mid-40s to late-80s, placing her among their youngest members. While many career opportunities are available to budding “a capella connoisseurs,” her ambitions lie elsewhere.
“I just do it for a place to go, as kind of my outlet to the world,” clarifies Nonte.
Instead, when Nonte looks to the future, she sees herself in the medical profession. This was influenced, in part, by a Macomb medical science professor who related to their class, “I didn’t do well in high school, but I became a nurse.” Sharing a similar story, Nonte decided to follow in their footsteps.
Currently pursuing an associate degree in Nursing from Macomb, Nonte has already been awarded a Certified Nursing Assistant certificate, through which she secured a job at Medilodge. She also works as a carousel attendant at Lakeside Mall. Her ideal job title, pediatric anesthetist, would blend elements from both. A self-proclaimed extrovert, she draws passion from helping people, which has included assisting her ailing father throughout much of her life. Perhaps more so, she loves children.
“The only reason you’d need a pediatric anesthetist is something really bad is happening to that child,” explains Nonte, something requiring the need for a “translator” and a “human” element. She hopes to bring that special connection to young patients, as well as their parents. “It’s not just about getting better. It’s not the physical, ‘My stomach doesn’t hurt, anymore.’ It’s that, ‘I feel better about myself, and I got better.’”