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| Durham Tech Home > Student Profiles |
| Ready for the next chapter in your life? considering your options? These Durham Tech students offer their success stories to help you learn how a degree, diploma, or certificate can lead to new career opportunities. | |||
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Ashley Gardner Medical Assisting Gardner enjoyed the hands-on clinical experience of a physician’s office. “You’re doing everything from greeting patients to checking vital signs to helping a doctor with procedures,” she says. |
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David Eade Clinical Trials Research Associate “In this field I’m still helping people, like in nursing,” he says. “But this is data intense. You’re reporting scientific findings. The pace is fast, but instructors are always there to help. It takes many years to learn on the job what I learned at Durham Tech in two years.” |
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Megan Pollock Occupational Therapy Assistant Megan Pollock is an occupational therapy assistant who specializes in eating disorders at UNC-Hospitals’ Psychiatry Department. Her career advice to students is to figure out exactly what motivates them. “Don't just rush into something. Take a break from school like I did if you need to,” she says. |
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Tamika Poole Medical Office Administration Poole loved the individual attention she received at Durham Tech. “The instructors are always willing to answer any questions,” she says. “They also encouraged you to speak your mind during class.” Probably her favorite part of the program has been the cooperative experience at Duke Medical Center’s Harps Mill Internal Medicine Clinic. |
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Mike Rogers Industrial Systems Technology Mike Rogers had been looking for any job in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) for nearly seven months. “Within two weeks of completing the Industrial Systems Technology program at Durham Tech, I had three job offers,” he recalls. |
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Jessica Phelps School-Age Education As an infant, Mark's daughter Kaylee was diagnosed with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) which infects the lungs and breathing passages and can cause lifelong problems. Sanchez recalls talking to one of the respiratory therapists caring for his daughter. The therapist was a graduate of Durham Tech’s Respiratory Therapy program. Now Mark is a also a graduate of Durham Tech and works as a respiratory care assistant at UNC Hospitals. |
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Chi Donaldson Clinical Trials Research Associate Chi's advice to prospective students is to take advantage of the many opportunities available outside the classroom, including internships. “Your approach should be to learn as much as possible, work very diligently, and show all the initiative that you can,” she says. She recommends that students volunteer for college-sponsored activities, join academic groups, and participate in professional organizations. |
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Iris Chicas-Chavarria Community and Medical Spanish Certificates “The classes were very exciting because of the teacher and the topics,” she says. “My favorite parts were the debates that took place in each class. Also, the diversity of my classmates allowed me to learn about their cultures. I apply everything I learned from my two certificates at Durham Tech.” |
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Frank Simmons Electrical/Electronics Technology His instructors made what might be called a “dry subject” fascinating. “Mr. Crutchfield’s [the program director] classes are like a suspense novel. You have to be in class the next day to hear what happens next. His lectures make you think,” Simmons said. |
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Lester Barrios Networking Technology Lester Barrios first enrolled in the Associate Degree Nursing program. He knew ADN graduates were in demand. But as time went on, he began to feel that nursing was not for him. With guidance, he enrolled in the Networking Technology program. “When I began taking the Networking courses, it was love at first sight. The instructors gave me problems to solve, and I solved them right away.” |
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Christina Hobgood Surgical Technology “I originally thought about nursing. Then I looked at Durham Tech’s Surgical Technology program,” she recalls. She’d always liked the intensity of operating rooms on TV. But real life? “I think I really loved the idea of patient contact and being a patient’s advocate.” |
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Shawn King Associate Degree Nursing In August, King accepted a position as a nurse at the Veterans Affairs Community Living Center for Extended and Respite Care. “I feel like I was made for this job,” King said. “I know I’m really helping people who need me.” |
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Debbie Baker Health Information Technology “My hope is to find a career niche in which I can use my computer programming background, pharmacy knowledge, and my Health Information Technology knowledge.” |
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Debbie Hauser Environment, Health, and Safety Technology program “The time was right,” she said. The fact that most of the courses were offered online and the labs were offered on weekends or evenings appealed to her. She was able to put much of the knowledge from her courses into use immediately by acquiring additional duties in her current position. |
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Megan Wilkinson Business Administration Megan Wilkinson initially entered Durham Tech to save costs on tuition. She then discovered there were many benefits. “The instructors really took the time to help you.” |
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Kevin Thorpe Machining Technology “I liked everything in my courses and was never bored.” At Durham Tech, Thorpe received much individual attention. “Instructors watched what you did and helped you.” In a recent Manpower, Inc., survey, skilled machinists are the second hardest job to fill in the U.S., just behind engineers |
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Rosa Blad Accounting Rosa Blad was a certified public accountant and auditor in her native Peru. When she moved to the U.S., she came to Durham Tech to prepare for the U.S. CPA exam. |
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Astrid Gatling Networking Technologies “When I started the Networking Technologies curriculum at Durham Tech, I didn't know anything about computers,” recalls Astrid Gatling. “But I thought computers were cool and I wanted to give the program a try.” |
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Desiree Ferguson Practical Nursing “My mother is a nurse. As I got older and realized just what she did and the impact she had on her patients, I knew that one day I wanted to do the same.” |
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Heather McKay Occupational Therapy Assistant "The hands-on skills I learned at Durham Tech have given me a competitive edge in every job interview or national exam I’ve ever had.” |
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Bob Gingrich Respiratory Therapy “It’s wonderful to see the eyes of my students light up and understand a concept that was foreign to them just moments before.” |
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Calvin Vaughan Criminal Justice "This isn’t just a job, it’s a calling. It was difficult at times, but it is ‘do-able.’ You have to have a real desire to be successful and be willing to make some sacrifices." |
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Karin Mills HVAC Certificate “The program arms you with all the information you need to go out and do a job. At work, I refer back to every course I took. I’ve acquired a whole other set of skills.” |
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Laurel Foote-Hudson Spanish Language Certificate ”I was trying to decide on how to use my languages in my career and my parents mentioned Tech taking some courses at Durham Tech. I’ve expanded my vocabulary, and built my analytical and writing skills.” |
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Amanda Shirley Certified Nursing Assistant "In the CNA program, you learn about taking blood pressure, temperatures, how to help patients move around, how to feed and care for them. It really is a wonderful entry-level course. ” |
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Sarah Grueller, Octavia Fitzpatrick, and Terri Godwin Medical Office Administration "I didn't have a medical background, but I learned the terminology, how to type faster, and I sharpened my computer skills." |
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Joan and Terry Harris Opticianry "If this program was not online, I couldn't have done it. The teachers are awesome. They really want you to succeed." |
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Teresa Holder Medical Assisting "You are trained from the front desk to the laboratory," said Holder. The Medical Assisting program includes a real-life 10-week summer "externship" in area ambulatory care settings. |
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Vickcine Grant Early Childhood Education "I liked all my courses and all the teachers," Grant said. One favorite course focused on creative activities for children. This course helped me become more creative and think of activities I could plan," she said. |
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Joshua Bumgarner Electrical/Electronics Technology "I thought I'd be taking classes in which I'd know most everything. That's not how it is at all," he said. "We see stuff in class that some advanced professionals don't see for a long time." |
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