Loraine Spargo was never a confident student while growing up.

She mostly kept to herself, doubting her intelligence and rarely speaking up in class.

“I was always really quiet, so I kind of fell through the cracks,” she said. “I thought I had a low IQ.”

Things have changed.

Spargo, 56, graduated this spring from Cascadia Community College as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. She finished with a 3.86 grade-point average.

Insecurity wasn’t the only thing this Bothell resident had to overcome.

Spargo has been on a long road to recovery since suffering head injuries during a 1999 auto accident. She was struck by another motorist while turning left at an intersection, and her head smashed into her driver’s-side window.

“It was stunning for a moment,” she said. “I must have lost consciousness because it felt like the fire truck was there in 30 seconds.”

Doctors released Spargo from the hospital that same day. There was hardly a scratch on her body.

Little did they know she had suffered internal head injuries.

Not even Spargo herself was aware of how bad things actually were. It wasn’t until she returned to work as a real-estate agent that her situation became clear.

“I picked up a contract to do the same work I’d been doing for the past 15 years, and I couldn’t read a thing,” Spargo said. “It might as well have been written in Greek.”

The full extent of Spargo’s injuries showed more with each passing day. She couldn’t dial a phone, work a calculator or recall facts from her short-term memory. Her eyes weren’t even working in unison.

“All of a sudden, my skills were leaving,” Spargo said. “I was terrified. I had no idea a smash in the head could be so devastating.”

Spargo had to undergo therapy to re-learn simple mental functions like reading and elementary arithmetic. She’s had a strong recovery, but still struggles with multi-tasking and absorbing information.

Going after an associate’s degree might have seemed out of the question, especially for a person who lacked confidence in her academic prowess.

But Spargo found her mojo after taking an IQ test as part of her neuro-psychological evaluation.

She scored in the 90th percentile in multiple categories.

Beneath the struggling accident victim was an honors student waiting to happen.

“I was excited,” Spargo said. “It was the one blessing out of this whole thing. That’s why I decided to call Cascadia.”

Spargo enrolled at the school in 2002.

“I was so embarrassed to let people know I had a disability, but they were so good about it,” she said.

Cascadia did what it could to accommodate her needs, providing voice recorders, books on tape and personal note takers.

Spargo did more than hit the books during her time at Cascadia. She took up part-time work as a student ambassador and joined organizations like the Outdoor Adventure Club and Phi Theta Kappa.

“I felt like I should be getting as much out of school as I possibly could,” she said. “I was looking to meet new people and learn new things that I didn’t know before.

“It’s been kind of an all-out thing — learning to enjoy life in a different way. I don’t take things for granted because I almost lost everything anyway.”

Spargo’s teachers say her enthusiasm was apparent in the classroom.

“What she added was a curiosity and willingness to try and understand the content we’re covering,” said Cascadia English instructor and Phi Theta Kappa adviser Todd Lundberg. “I remember her asking questions that you figure most students probably have but aren’t articulating.”

Spargo’s return to school wasn’t sparked by a need to change careers or learn a new vocation that would pay the bills. It was personal.

“I wanted to get to a point where I could function as normally as possible,” Spargo said. “Initially, I started with math and figured I would go until I hit a brick wall. It never happened.”

Spargo not only passed algebra, she discovered a new favorite subject: literature.

She now plans to pursue a Ph.D. in English after working toward a bachelor’s degree at Seattle University beginning this fall. Tuition at the school will cost her less than $300 a semester thanks to numerous scholarships. Phi Theta Kappa provided her with a check for $750 after she was named to the All-Washington Academic Team, which recognizes students who excel in the classroom and the community.

“I know that school was a struggle for her,” said Cascadia’s Dean of Admissions and Retention Erin Blakeney. “It just makes this accomplishment that much greater.”