Cynthia Adams’ Story with ANU
In 2013, Cynthia Adams graduated from 麻豆社, known as National Business College when she attended, with a degree in Medical Assisting Education has always been a cornerstone for Cynthia and her family as she credits feeling the spirit of her father, who was an educator himself, to being the push for her to earn her associate degree. When she saw an advertisement for National Business College in her local paper, Cynthia went to campus and began the admissions process. As quickly as she went in, she was enrolled. Now, Cynthia credits her degree for the success she has found in her career 鈥� and is returning to earn her bachelor’s degree to achieve even more.
When she found us, Cynthia was reading through her local newspaper. The striking purple of our school colors stood out to her 鈥� and she called the number on the page to learn more. She was able to go in that very same day and enroll. 鈥淚 just said I鈥檓 going back to school. I was looking at the paper and I saw that, and I called鈥� It wasn鈥檛 like I planned it!鈥� And she started as soon as possible with how quickly National was able to get her through the doors. She explains. Cynthia always knew she wanted to be in the medical field, but she didn鈥檛 want to be a doctor. She found our medical assisting program to be the perfect start to the career she was looking for 鈥� 鈥測ou learn a lot about [the medical field]!鈥� She recalls.
鈥淎 lot of my friends [from the program] are now nurses, one of my friends, she鈥檚 going on to be a doctor. And she started at National Business College!鈥�
Upon reflection of her time at National, Cynthia instantly recalls the feeling of how her professors treated her during her time in her program. The professors during her education left such an impact on her that it moved her to tears to recall them. 鈥淢s. Williams, may she rest in peace,鈥� she begins, before stopping to collect herself, 鈥渟he was my academic advisor, and she was also head of the medical assistant program鈥� she even developed a relationship with my mom. Where, if my mom didn鈥檛 hear from me, my mom would call her!鈥� She smiles at that memory. 鈥淪he was so loving, so kind, and so encouraging. And I had trouble with the phlebotomy part of the class, and she literally taught me on an orange,鈥� she pauses again. 鈥淪he told me I could do it. And she went the extra mile, because I鈥檓 a perfectionist, I didn鈥檛 want a B, I wanted the A 鈥� and she tutored me day in and day out so I could get that A,鈥� this memory moves her to tears, emotion clouding her voice.
Cynthia goes on to talk about when she was nominated for the E.M Coulter Award, an award presented at graduation for high academic achievement to graduates of Nursing, Emergency Medical Technology – Health Information Management, Medical Assisting, Medical Billing and Coding, Pharmacy Technician, and Phlebotomy programs. She explains that many instructors of her that nominated her for the award, her emotions getting the best of her during her explanation. Cynthia then goes on to name every instructor or faculty member that had a profound impact on her 鈥� Ms. Ackerson, Ms. Cather, Mr. George, as she names them.
She tearfully, with a smile, recalls interacting with ANU president, Frank Longaker, and how he shook her hand, 鈥渉e said, 鈥業 don鈥檛 have many students like you. And I just want you to know I feel honored to have you in my college.鈥�
Along with that, she emphasizes how she was treated like a person at National, not like a number or a face to lose in the crowd. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 seen as this girl from New York, I wasn鈥檛 seen as this black girl, I wasn鈥檛 seen as this underprivileged black girl trying to do something with her life. It was personable 鈥� I just didn鈥檛 feel like whatever society deemed me as [at National]. And that gave me the courage to keep going鈥� And whenever I felt like I couldn鈥檛, the people that I named, including Mr. Longaker, gave me the push to keep going.鈥�
Cynthia has no plans of stopping her educational pursuits.
鈥淎NU, National Business College, is the reason I have excelled in my career as I have. Literally. And I mean literally!鈥�
She explains, bright smile on her face. Because of that success, she is returning to ANU to earn her bachelor鈥檚 degree. And coming back to ANU was no brainer, 鈥済oing back to 麻豆社 鈥� I鈥檓 just going home.鈥� After she earns her bachelor鈥檚, she鈥檇 like to earn her master鈥檚, even her doctorate if she can.
Her advice for students just beginning their higher education journey: 鈥淏e mindful of the people you surround yourself with. Try to be organized and determined and disciplined. Do it for yourself鈥� at the end of the day, have fun with it!鈥�
