A couple of weeks after graduating from Yavapai College, Tessa Clasen-Pierce created a social media video chronicling what even a stranger would likely judge to be some of the best years of her life so far.

In clip after clip, the smiling, strawberry-haired YC student and her friends render every mundane (meetings, studying, Dutch Brothers runs) and extraordinary (ziplining, fireworks, sunsets) experience into one nearly 3-minute, magical love story.

“Dear Yavapai College, thank you,” the opening caption reads, overlaying clips of Tessa, her YC pals or her family members dancing, taking selfies, eating (lots of eating) – and just enjoying every day -- in dorm rooms, in the student lounge, on hiking trails, in cars and movie theaters. No matter what they’re doing, or where they’re gathered, laughter erupts and amazing moments happen.

Mid love-story video, the caption changes to read: “It’s crazy to think that over two years this place has made such an impact on me. And honestly, it’s because of all of you.”

A few more clips fly by before this caption appears: “I don’t have the words to express everything I want to, but know I miss you already and love what we did together.”

Tessa’s Yavapai College love story started long before the aspiring teacher arrived at the Prescott Campus in fall 2023. It is rooted in her stepfather Curtis Pierce’s memories and escapades as a YC student in the mid-1990s.

A dismal start at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University had landed Pierce, now a commercial airline pilot, at YC rather than on a return flight to his home state of New Jersey. “I loved it here,” Curtis said during a spring-semester visit with Tessa.

Although he left YC before graduating and continued college elsewhere after moving to Phoenix in 1996, Curtis said of YC: “This was definitely the most quality education I got. From the caliber of professors to the support structure that’s here, I haven’t seen that anywhere.”

Among his favorite memories of living in Prescott, Curtis said, were working in the residence halls, drum circles under a full moon, holiday parades and the house he shared with roommates on Union Street. He remembers his favorite professors by name (Beth Boyd), his favorite classes, geology and political science, and nuggets of wisdom acquired.

Owing to Curtis’ positive experience, YC was part of the family lore growing up in Phoenix, Tessa said -- so much so that Curtis gifted her a Yavapai College T-shirt for Christmas sometime during her middle school years. She still owns and wears the gray short-sleeved shirt emblazoned with YAVAPAI in blocky yellow and green above the original horseback-riding Roughrider logo.

Pre-dating the T-shirt, however, was Tessa’s pronouncement to her family, at the age of 8 or 9, that she was going to go to Yavapai College when she grew up. No one doubted it, said Dr Anne Pierce, Curtis’ mom, Tessa’s step-grandmother and fellow YC student.  

Anne arrived in Prescott in 2013 from New Jersey, having fallen in love with the area while visiting Curtis at ERAU. When Tessa stayed with her grandmother during school and summer breaks, a visit to the YC Prescott Campus invariably was on their to-do list, Anne said.

An author and retired educator, Anne is a regular in YC for-credit art courses, in community education and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute classes. She’s also a regular in The Eatery, the Prescott Campus restaurant, where she would meet Tessa for lunch. Tessa’s video love story includes a clip of a monthly tradition – Sunday afternoon tea with Anne in her Prescott home.

The video also features clips of Tessa’s extended family, including her six younger siblings – four sisters and two brothers.

Tessa describes her decision to attend YC after graduating from Arcadia High School in Phoenix as a “wonderful coincidence” given her stepfather’s history and her grandmother’s connection to the college. It also helped that her program of study – education -- was available and easily transferrable to Northern Arizona University – the next stop this fall on Tessa’s educational journey.

Tessa’s first year at YC admittedly wasn’t as joyful as the second. Anne recalled that visits from her granddaughter were more frequent in year one. “This year, I saw her a lot less, but I saw that as a very healthy change,” she said.

Tessa said she remedied “doing a lot of nothing” in her dorm room that first year by joining the Students of Leadership cohort last fall. The connections she made in that program led her to also join the Roughrider Ambassadors, the Future Teacher’s Club and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Tessa was the YC Evening of STARS Provost’s Award winner this year, a prestigious acknowledgement of her academic achievements and her contributions to the college outside the classroom.

The greatest reward for Tessa’s extra-curricular activities, however, was a “found family” of forever friends – every single one of whom is featured in her farewell video. “You don’t know what you have until you go and find it,” Tessa said of her unforgettable journey through YC -- a journey inspired by her stepfather and made more memorable by sharing it with her step-grandmother.

Tessa’s heartwarming video love story ends with her walking off the stage during spring Commencement, wearing green high heels, a beautiful smile and waving to a group of friends in the audience.

Many of those friends are returning to YC in the fall. Tessa would join them if she could. “I wish I could stay here longer. If they had a bachelor’s-degree program in education, I would still be here in the fall,” she said. My heart does lie here.”