Skip to main content

It's Your Time

Rory Thomas

Future Alumni Essay Contest

2017 Runner-up


Are you insecure about going back to school to better your career choices and income earning potential? Not sure you want to commit right away to a four-year college? Not sure that you can afford it or even have the time to take classes? Then you are very much in the desperate position I was in, not very long ago. I have a mortgage to pay, mouths to feed, and more than one job to make that happen. I chose to attend Trident Technical College (TTC) because there is a campus close to home, and the courses are offered throughout the day and evening as well as online. This flexibility provided me with a class schedule that allowed me to “pay the bills” while improving the quality of my professional life. In addition, TTC paired me with an advisor to guide me into the right courses that ended up building my confidence and helping me to believe that I could thrive in college. And yes, even after many years out of high school I am an A student!

Because, TTC is focused on educating and preparing students for careers that are in demand, I know that my career path in Pharmacy will afford me a fulfilling lifelong livelihood. I am able to pursue this vocation in large part due to the affordability of TTC with lottery assistance, a scholarship, and being part of the work study program that TTC offers. As a scholarship recipient, I have been able to focus on my studies, and as a work-study student, I am able to work in a lab that provides me with insight into my chosen profession, time to study, access to incredibly dedicated instructors as well as help me to afford being in college. Another advantage of being a TTC student is the Student Ambassador program. I have been a student ambassador for one semester, but unfortunately, the time required is not something that I can afford. It is a worthwhile program and if I had more time, I would definitely take advantage of it. By taking advantage of all that TTC has to offer, the cost of enrollment has been less than half of what a regular four-year college would have cost!

TTC strives to be a partner in our community. It collaborates with other universities in the area and supplies a pipeline of educated adults to local businesses. Because of my achievements at TTC, I will transfer to the College of Pharmacy at the Medical University of South Carolina. With my PharmD degree, I will attain my personal goal to help others in our community and beyond.

My college career has provided many opportunities and tools that have helped me to discover more about what I am capable of, and about myself as a person. TTC has a great library with plenty of private space to study and do research. The internet access is incredibly dependable and easily accessible from my personal devices or from a TTC computer, and there are many places on the campus to relax in comfort and eat a meal while studying. I personally have used the top-notch fitness facility on the main campus many times during spaces between classes to stay in shape and avoid the pit-falls that inevitably come from long hours of sitting while studying.

I wish that I had this letter to read many years ago. If so, I would have enrolled a lot sooner! Did you answer yes to any of the questions at the start of this letter? Now it’s your time to discover your own path to a new or better professional career. Don’t let fear, insecurities or finances prevent you from reaching your potential.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New Laptop is a Game-Changer

When life throws you one challenge after another, you start to appreciate the small wins.  For Trident Tech student Kristi Salvo, receiving a new laptop through the Student Urgent Needs (SUN) fund was a game-changer.  Like students across the country, Salvo’s in-person classes were abruptly switched to an online format this spring due to COVID-19. But she knew her older computer couldn’t keep up with the online demands and she couldn't afford to buy a new one. “I was already dealing with a lot and it felt like this was going to be the thing that would break me,” she said. Salvo, a veteran of the US Air Force, struggles with health issues, including a back injury and a severe autoimmune disorder. In March, she and her husband separated, leaving her to juggle the responsibility of being a student, while also being a teacher to their two young children. All this, while trying to stay healthy and safe during a global pandemic. After Salvo and her children moved into a smaller, mor...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Path to Success

As the 11th of 14 children, Kathy Simmons knows what it’s like to be a part of a close-knit family. Which is exactly why she has made her way back to Trident Technical College 33 years after graduating in 1985. Kathy’s path back to TTC began with her desire to fulfill two goals – advance her education and travel – and she figured the best way to accomplish both was through the military. So Kathy joined the Air Force in 1987, and did indeed accomplish both goals. She received her Bachelor of Arts while stationed in Minot, North Dakota, her Master of Arts from Erskine Theological Seminary and she has completed 60 hours toward a Doctor of Education from Walden University. She saw much of the country and spent time overseas in Korea. After the military, Kathy found herself back at TTC in the Admissions and Registrar’s office, and it was there she realized she really wanted to stay in education and help students find success. But a wise mentor once told her that in order to advance...
6 comments
Read more

Alumna Living her Best Life

E arning a college degree is challenging enough. But for single parents, it can seem like an insurmountable feat. Costs like living expenses and childcare only add to the stress of paying tuition. Making time to study usually means waiting until after the kids are in bed, leading to added exhaustion and stress.  When Joyce Antonetty attended Trident Technical College as a single parent of two young children, she knew it would be difficult. But she was determined to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a Fitness Specialist.  “I wanted to help people become a healthier version of themselves,” says Joyce. Joyce had been down this road before. Like many Trident Tech students, she had attended a four-year college immediately after high school. But when she was waitlisted to enter the Physical Therapy program at MUSC, she postponed her dream in order to start a family.  Joyce's life took an unexpected turn when she went through a divorce in 2010. She held se...
4 comments
Read more