2002

WEEK OF f}S h b ~~

experienn· in taking college classes. A 10th·gradt•r when she dropped out of school in 1()76 to gel married. Munn later earned her GED diploma. Now that. her children are abo grown, she decided "it was time momma wt:nt back to school." "I was ~ir~d of doing every– body else s JOb. and wanted to do something for myself," Munn said. "I have always wanted to be a nurse. .:\lv b{'st fr~end_'s father was a doctor. and I 1dohzed him so much th;1t I also wanted a career in the mc?ical field. It's just fasci– natmg to me what medicine can do for somebody. Lord knows I've had c nough medicim. in my life. I almost died a few years ago and that experience gave me even more respect for people in the medical field." Vlunn agrees with Blais about the instruction provided at East Central. She also has praise for her classmates. "I like the individualized attention. I've heard such is not the case at other colleges. I'm really pro~~ that I can get help from the~ mstructors if it's needed,'' she said. ·•Jt is also gratifying that everyone in the class is supportive of each other. Everybody wants the other person to succeed, which also. makes for a great learning environment." Munn. who is originally from Boston, has a husband Gary, who is disabled, and tw~ teen-age sons. Gary Jr. and Robert. ~he said her family is "very supportive" of her desire to become an LPK "TI1cy've been great sup– p~rterg and are very patient 'Y1th me. Momma gets get a httle tense at times when there's a lot of ..;tudying to do. but they have been very understanding, and I ap reciate that." -.he said ~

By Bubby Johnston special to The Star

DECATliR - Debbie Blais an~ Debbie Muno, both of Umon, are determined to ful– fill a career goal. even though they got a late start with their education. Blais, 46, and Munn, 41. are almost at the halfway point of completing requirements for a licensed practical nursing degree at East Central Com– munitY. College. The LPN pro– gram 1g one of five health– related areas offered on the Decatur campus. For Blais, who is originally fron: Vancouver. Canada, making the decision to return to college was something she was ready to make. "Now that my children are gr?wn· 1 decided not to put off gomg back to school any longer," Blais said. "I'm cur rently a certified nursing assis– tant, but always wanted a nursing career I enrolled in the re~is~cr.ed. nurse program at MlSSlSSIPPI Gulf Coast Com· munity College's Jeff Davis campus following high school, but later dropped out to get married. I knew that now was the time to go back to college and l'm glad I made the deci: ion to enroll at East Central." A single mom with two adult ehildren, Blais said going to coUege at her age has been a po,"the experience, thanks ainlJ to the o;;mall classes and a .,: ,tance received from structors. ·1 reallv lik~:: the in~tructor~ Bu kman and Lori the andt\;dualized

"Hopefully m th r and daughter "'ill be embers f the graduaung class of 2002 at East Central 1 knO\\ m'< father (Dr. Eddie Ruddick. a 1onn r 1structor at Clarke Col\ege) ,m be ,.ez; pr ud that hi daughter and ndd ghter will be graduating fr the samP. year." she For Mwm. bl'ing enro n program rcprec;cnts her the licensed practic

Mississippi t State HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) organization. Stephanie Mize of Philadelphia won top honors for her entry in a lapel-design contest. For more information regarding the ECCC Licensed ~racti~al Nursing Pr ogram, mdudmg testing dates for the pre·NLN exam, ~on tact Jimmy Dempsey, vocational-technical counselor, phone 635-2111 or call toll free, (877) 462-3222, e:xt 214. CARTHAGINIAN

ESHOBA DEMOCRAT E \'TON RECORD

to tea h u th mat not just spoon-feed the infor– mation. The instructors are also available after hours to help us in any way po~sible." Blais' so~. Billy Cole, 23. is employed Ill the electronics field ~nd her daughter, Sarah Cole, IS a sophomore art major at East Central.

pur:::.umg therr dream-..The) Jll t have to make. up tlu·i~ mmd-; and do it, they ~md. It s not always easy but the results will be more than worth the effort. . Instructor Kathy Buckman s.'Ud graduates of East Central's LPN program are well prepared to enter the workforce, if recent test results are an indicator of success. She noted that 13 of . . , . ,

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' ERIDIAN STAR CLARION -LEDGE=-=R~------