The Road to Success
Share your student success story with us!
tcc.successstories@tccd.edu
Nathan Price
I am currently in my second year at Tarrant County College, enrolled in the Culinary Arts Program and looking forward to graduating the summer of 2017. I am a 36-year-old single father.
While attending TCC, I am working as a student assistant, helping in both kitchens
at the Southeast Campus. My road to success has been rocky, to say the least.
Like a lot of kids fresh out of high school, I did not choose to go to college right away. I had a passion for food that was sparked by my father being in the kitchen when I was young. I did not know if I had what it took to make it in the food industry. Instead, I chose to get a job and get ahead by just working hard as a commercial carpet cleaner for 15 years. While working at night and providing for my family, though there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, I could not find the success I was looking for. I kept getting overlooked for management positions, mostly because I did not have a college degree or any type of management training.
Cooking was always with me. No matter what I was doing, or hard times I was facing, it always helped me through. But after my daughter was born, there was no time to have my head in the clouds chasing dreams. It was time for me to prepare to make HER dreams come true. I stayed diligent in my field, saving when I could, running myself into the ground until I pushed myself into a series of three heart attacks before I was 30 years old. The first came as I was driving home from work around three o’clock in the morning. Lying in the hospital bed, looking at my daughter’s face and imagining not being here, was too much to bear.
I made a decision to be happy in all aspects of my life. I suffered through a divorce, multiple deaths in my family and the murder of one of my dearest friends. All these things kept me postponing and postponing and postponing. But in November of 2014, I finally took the first step. I registered for classes.
From the very first day I knew I belonged here. It just felt like home. The people and how they spoke, the instructors and how they treat you. It is a family. In my student assistant position, under Chef Katrina Warner, I have learned a lot of skills that will be of great use to me in the industry. Another instructor, Chef Alison, the certified pastry chef, encouraged me to enter in an American Culinary Federation (ACF)-sanctioned Student Chefs competition. It was my first, I was terrified and doubting myself. Chef Alison helped me to overcome my fear so that I could compete. After a sweaty and nervous performance, I was awarded a bronze medal for my dish.
I was overjoyed that in my first competition I was able to medal. The warm welcome I received after the competition from all the chefs and staff is very indicative of the support you receive in this program. I have now been bitten with the competition bug and I look forward to future events. But mostly, I and proud to be a future graduate of the TCC Culinary Program!
Abigail Ransaw
Last January, I began my journey to earn an associate degree from Tarrant County College
in Logistics & Supply Chain Management and I’m looking forward to completing the program this summer. As a U.S. Army reservist,
wife and mother of two children, going to school to earn an associate degree used
to be a far-fetched goal. I imagined I would have to work between two and three jobs
to make ends meet after I came off active duty.
Today, I am proud to say that I have the support of my family, friends and TCC staff as I work to earn my degree. One of the biggest motivators for me is that I will be the first person in my family to earn a college degree. My husband and I are both going to school to show our families and our two children that getting a degree is possible.
When I was an active duty member of the Army, I worked in logistics and had access to logistics systems. While I was cross-trained to do supply chain in the military, I did not receive any formal schooling during that time. I thought those same skill sets would translate to the civilian sector but there was a catch. Nowadays, in order to work in most civilian logistics jobs, you have to have a bachelor’s degree.
My goal of earning a bachelor’s degree after completing an associate degree at TCC motivates me every day. In addition, I am motivated by the fact that you don’t see a lot of women working in or pursuing logistics as a profession. On average, there are about three to four women in my classes and I always encourage them to continue pursuing their dream of working in logistics.
TCC is preparing me and my fellow female students to fill critical industry jobs. For any women out there considering a career in logistics and interested in going to school to earn a certification or degree in warehouse and transportation logistics, there is an enormous opportunity for women to make a huge impact in this male-dominated industry.
Tips I follow to reach any goal:
Stay Committed to Accomplishing Your Goal
Goals require commitment and dedication. If you are struggling with committing to a specific goal, start the process over.
Build a Support System
You may need external support to accomplish your goals. If you need help or support, ask someone you trust to help you stay on track.
Keep Your Eye on the Finish Line
Think about the big picture! Envision the end result of your efforts to stay motivated.
Celebrate Every Success
This will build your confidence and commitment and