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Sometimes we get the most out of life by not helping ourselves but by helping others.  It is that motto that makes Alyssa Long, a criminal justice major, excited about getting her associate’s degree at North Central State College.

As a single mom and a full-time employee at the Crawford County Jail, she is well aware that life does not always go as planned. “Life got complicated once I had my daughter,” Long explains.  “But at 26 years old, I decided to go back to school.”

“I was a toddler when my mom also got her associate degree at NC State College,” Long said.  “My mom brought me to class a couple of times because she needed to and the professors got me crayons and stuff to do to keep me occupied.  The professors did everything they could to keep my mom going, and I appreciate and remember what they did for us.”

Long chose the online criminal justice degree.  “North Central State College was the right track for me to take,” she said.  “I was looking at graduation rates and saw how excellent they are here.”  In addition, that is where Long has her eyes, on the prize, to graduation.

However, that is not the only goal she has in sight.  She is passionate about helping others and has experience working with human trafficking victims.  Long wants to make a difference in the community.  “Right now there are so many young teens in Richland County that are known runaways.  However, it’s important for law enforcement to look into human trafficking as well.  It’s real and I want to help be a part of the solution,” Long admits.

Long credits instructor, Anne Strouth for helping her along the way.  “I found the job I currently have at the jail because Anne posted it.  They needed two females and I was chosen as one of them,” she said.  “The classes that really opened my eyes were the juvenile delinquency and family violence classes.  At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if it’s child abuse, sexual abuse, or physical abuse.  It  normally steams from the same type of environment.”

Long continues to be an advocate for those who need it.  She will graduate in May 2020.

Degrees from North Central State can take you anywhere, even the happiest place on earth.  Chris Ebinger graduated from NC State in 2015 and now works as the engineering service manager at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  He earned his mechanical engineering technology and integrated engineering technology degrees at the college, where he says he learned the analytical thinking skill set that he applies to any problem or obstacle that he encounters in his life and career.

Ebinger was already working in his field of study when he chose to advance his career.  “I was a journeyman industrial technician when I went back to school.  I took some technical classes for the program at MTD Products in the mid-’90s,” he explains.  “My wife and I decided skillset advance in my profession; I needed an edge over the competition.  The degrees I received at NC State gave me the leverage I needed not only to advance my career but aligned me for my career.”

In Ebinger’s current role, he manages a team of cast members that ensure that the attractions at Animal Kingdom are properly maintained and comply with all safety standards.  He also assists with troubleshooting problems with equipment and processes.  “Some of the attractions I oversee range from high energy roller coasters like Expedition Everest to the most highly rated entertainment venue, Festival of the Lion King,” he explains.  “Our goal is to make sure everyone that comes to Animal Kingdom will be able to enjoy all we have to offer and have a magical experience that will last a lifetime.”

While he was taking classes at North Central State College, Ebinger says the faculty was what he enjoyed most.  “I didn’t really have a favorite instructor, because all of the faculty members I had a chance to be involved with were outstanding,” Ebinger said.  “It was a very nurturing environment with most of the instructors or professors with “real-life” experiences and backgrounds in their field of study.  The teacher to student ratio gave great opportunities to be more engaged in the classwork.”

“Even though it had nothing to do with my field of study, the history class I took gave me a new perspective on how different cultures perceived the facts of the past,” Ebinger said.  “It taught me to look at a problem or event from multiple angles of perception to find the true meaning or root cause of the issue.”

For Ebinger, he believes that education was the tool he needed to get him to his current position.  He believes everyone should take the chance to further his or her education.  “Always keep education in your life,” he said.  “Degrees are not the endpoint, but rather milestones tracking the progress you make in the journey of life.  Never settle for less.”

Lauren Deese has already landed her dream job before graduation, but she couldn’t have done it without first experiencing classes at North Central State College.

Deese recently moved to Ohio from Florida, where she met her fiancé.  She chose NC State because of the smaller class sizes and affordability.  “I grew up in a small town in Florida.  When I moved here, I heard great things about North Central State,” Deese says. “With my immediate family so far away, I feel like I’m coming to my second family when I come to class.  The faculty and staff have really opened their ears and hearts to their students.”

“I have been able to grow such strong relationships with my instructors. If I need a little encouragement or wisdom they are there for me.”

One of the instructors that made a profound difference in Deese’s life is Paula Waldruff, the career pathway coordinator.  Along with her full-time position, she is an adjunct faculty member teaching a marketing class.  “She is a wonderful instructor,” Deese exclaims.  “Because of the skills and knowledge I gained in Mrs. Waldruff’s class, I got a job opportunity that I’ve always wanted.”

Deese recently accepted a position at Spire Advertising in Ashland as a sales coordinator.  She is also finishing her associate degree in marketing at NC State College.  “The classes in marketing have really helped me with time management, which is so important when you are a student and an employee at a business,” Deese explains.  At her job as a sales coordinator, Deese meets with local businesses throughout Richland, Ashland, and Wayne counties.  “I wouldn’t have been able to get this position without my education at NC State.”

Deese plans on graduating with her marketing degree next semester.

Online classes give students the freedom to schedule class work on their own time.  That’s why Mikayla Johnson, a business administration student, first became interested in classes online at North Central State College.

“I had my daughter at a young age,” she explains.  “When I thought about college it was on the back burner.  Then I just decided it’s time to do something for me because doing something for me is doing something for her in the long run.”

“I would recommend taking online classes at North Central because it revolves around your schedule.  You can take classes on your time,” Johnson says.

North Central’s online degrees and certificates are designed for students with busy schedules so they can take the step toward a future without sacrificing the things most important to them.  Online classes are taught by the same faculty who teach our traditional classroom-based courses.

Students also have access to tutoring and career services on campus.  “Even though I don’t want to go to a normal college setting and go to class every day, I still want the convenience of going to the tutoring center or the library,” Johnson says.  “I also get invited to the events going on around campus.”

Financial aid is also available for online students.  About 72% of North Central students received grants and scholarships during the 2017-18 school year and many had their costs reduced significantly.