“Berea is a special place to me, and I tell as many people as I can about the college. The biggest reason is Berea believed in me, helped shape me to be a doctor through my labor position as a clerk in Health Services. That experience introduced me to healthcare services in general, how to interact with patients and read patient charts. I learned the human aspect of medicine, making people feel comfortable and explaining things in an appropriate way. Exposure to the clinical setting helped me decide early on that a career in medicine was what I really wanted.

“I also learned time management and the value of hard work. When I went to medical school, it was an easy enough transition because I was used to having to balance working and studying. Work-study is important for teaching students not only to be responsible and learn but also the more realistic aspects of joining the workforce. You’re going to be expected to work and balance projects and meet deadlines. I think Berea makes learning those skills very easy.”