What made you come to Greenville Tech?

The main reason I chose Greenville Technical College was the widely renowned quality of the nursing program. Knowing the high success rate of program graduates on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) made me confident in my choice. I also appreciated the thoughtful design of the program, which allows students to focus on one course at a time. Additionally, the four-year route to obtaining a nursing degree was not feasible for me at that time in my life. The Associate Degree program allowed me to leverage the courses I had already taken and enabled me to enter my desired field sooner.

Where has life led you since your graduation?

After my graduation from the Greenville Tech Nursing Program, I was immediately hired by a local hospital as a Registered Nurse on a medical surgical unit. After a year and a half, I was promoted to Charge Nurse and served as a Super User for the hospital’s first electronic medical record (EMR). Two years later I was asked to lend my clinical expertise to the project team implementing the hospital’s first fully integrated EMR. I soon realized I not only had a knack for the Informatics side of nursing, I also really enjoyed it. After four years of bedside nursing, I transitioned into a full-time Nurse Informatics role. I went on to obtain both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in the field of Nursing. I currently work in Information Technology for the largest health system in South Carolina as a Clinical Application Manager. Every day I use the clinical knowledge I gained at Greenville Tech to inform and enhance the use of technology by clinicians serving communities across two-thirds of the state.

Any particular accomplishments you are most proud of?

One of the proudest moments I will always carry with me is earning the Clinical Excellence Award for my graduating class at Greenville Tech. All the late nights studying and the early morning clinicals were rewarded with the ultimate acknowledgement of my dedication to the education and training needed to be a quality nurse. I was thrilled and humbled to be the recipient. Most recently, I had the privilege of leading a team of analysts to extend an EMR to seven acute care locations in Columbia and Sumter. It was a two-year project that leveraged my clinical experience and leadership skills. I was responsible for safely converting active physician orders into the new system for nearly a thousand patients. We successfully completed the conversion on time to ensure safe and seamless care to the patients.

What does your GTC degree mean to you?

Obtaining my GTC degree was a pivotal moment in my life. Due to a variety of circumstances, I did not attend college directly after high school. I always knew I would have to pay my own way through college, so I took classes when I could while working full time to support myself. Twelve years had passed since I graduated high school when I completed the Nursing program at Greenville Tech. During that time, I attended three different post-secondary schools, garnering credits as life allowed. Obtaining a degree meant I finally had skills and professional licensure that qualified me for a well-paying job. For the first time in my life, I could enjoy some upward mobility in my financial situation. I like to refer to the associate degree I earned at Greenville Tech as my gateway degree—it was the foundation upon which I obtained both a four-year and an advanced degree and qualified me for a successful career with endless opportunities.

Any favorite GTC memory?

One of my favorite memories from the Nursing Program was a group project in which our class was tasked with presenting the details of various assigned body systems in a creative format. One group made a video presentation of the gastrointestinal system in a soap opera format. It was hilarious! Our group sang a song about the liver and all its functions, with me accompanying on the guitar. I love the way GTC instructors make learning fun!

You recently made a wonderful gift to the Greenville Tech Foundation in honor of your mother.  Can you tell us why?

My mom is a certified teacher and always places an emphasis on the importance of education. I know she was disappointed when I did not attend college directly after high school, but she never gave up hope on me. My mom home-schooled my older sister, my younger brother, and me for 11 years before entering the workforce and sharing her talents as an educator in the public school system. She taught us that education was our ticket to success and financial stability. Her most uttered statements to us kids were: “Did you know that…?” and “Look it up!” At any point that I was overwhelmed or stressed during the GTC program, my mom was my biggest encouragement. She urged me to stick with it on the hard days and celebrated with me on the good ones. I could think of no better way to honor my mother than to help others attain their educational goals by paying it forward.

What makes you want to give back to GTC?

I want to give back to Greenville Tech not only because it is my alma mater, but because it provides affordable options for folks who want more from life and are willing to put the time and effort in to achieve it. GTC lassoes the stars and pulls them into reach for aspiring students. Without Greenville Tech I would still be in a minimum-wage job living paycheck to paycheck. I am happy to do my part to help other struggling students reach their goals. Everyone needs a leg up, whether it is emotion or financial. I am grateful I am now in a place to give back to other students who, for whatever reason, may find themselves in need of support. GTC is a family, and family takes care of one another.

What advice would you like to give to GTC students today?

If I could offer a word of advice to GTC students today it would be to hang in there. There will always be times when the challenges of classes and life seem insurmountable; however, if you stick with it, do your best, and see it through, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish. You are capable of so much more than you think. Often when we go through the most challenging situations in our lives is when we are learning the most. Being a student is not easy, but earning a degree will open doors for you that are unimaginable from your current vantage point. Persevere and you will be rewarded.

Anything else you would like to share?

There is a part of success that comes from personal initiative and there is another part that only comes with the right opportunity. We can strive to obtain our goals, work hard to earn the qualifications, but we cannot make an opportunity present itself at will. That does not mean we should throw our hands up in defeat. It took twelve years to obtain my first college degree, yet I was patient and persistent. Some of the most successful people in the world were at the right place at the right time in their career, but this rarely happens for the rest of us. We should all strive toward our goals, and if we have the chance to provide an opportunity for someone else, we should make that happen. Giving back to GTC is my way of providing an opportunity for a student who may not otherwise have any opportunities.