In May, Laura “Molly” Bickerton was chosen as the Technical College System of Georgia’s 2008 Student of the Year in the TCSG’s 37th annual Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) competition.
For Molly, 23, who’s studying radiologic technology at Ogeechee Technical College in Statesboro, being the TCSG Student of the Year/GOAL winner means she’ll serve as statewide ambassador for technical education. In addition to being a full-time student, she’ll also travel the state making speeches and appearances at a variety of meetings and occasions on behalf of the TCSG, and share her enthusiasm for and experiences with technical education.
Everywhere she goes, she’ll be driving her new 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt, the grand prize in the TCSG Student of the Year competition, courtesy of Chevrolet, the statewide GOAL sponsor.
Born In Hunington, WV, Molly “essentially grew up all over” but has lived for the past 12 years in Statesboro. She calls it home, as do her parents, father Dan and stepmother Terri Bickerton. Molly has two sisters, Mary and Sara, and two stepsisters, Megan and Alexis Ryder.
Q: How did it feel when your name was called and the crowd rose to applaud you as the TCSG’s 2008 Student of the Year? What’s it like to be chosen as the “best of the best” among the state’s 145,000 technical college students?
MOLLY: I was shocked! After getting to know all of the other college winners, I truly felt like any one of them would have been an excellent state winner. After it all registered that I had won, I was very humbled to be chosen to represent those wonderful people.
Q: Why did you choose Ogeechee Tech’s radiologic technology program for your career field? Were you encouraged by friends, parents, instructors? What advice would you give to others who want to enter this field?
MOLLY: I chose radiologic technology because of the high job placement in the field, my passion for healthcare and my instructors. My instructor at Ogeechee Tech, Jan Martin, really encouraged me to pursue this career because she saw the drive I had to be the best. Plus, you can’t say no to Jan Martin!
One of the hardest things about this program is the hands-on work we do in the clinical settings. Therefore, if I had any advice to others who want to enter this field, it would be to make sure this is what you really want to do, and never lose that passion for health care and caring for people.
Q: What courses do you find most enjoyable? Most challenging?
MOLLY: The most enjoyable course for me, even though it’s the hardest, is the clinical setting; I can literally see all the things I learn. I also get lots and lots of practice, so I can be the best of the very best when I graduate. The most challenging has to be the physics. My physics instructor is a very intelligent man and an excellent teacher, and he helps me put together all the scientific facts.
Q: What would you say to recent high school graduates who are undecided about a career path?
MOLLY: Well, I know that being in high school can be very challenging in itself, and choosing a career can be difficult as well. I think the thing that a lot of high schoolers don’t realize is that technical education is an option for everyone, not just those who aren’t attending a four-year university.
When I meet with high school graduates or soon-to-be graduates, I challenge them to figure out their learning style, which I believe will help them choose a school. I’m a visual learner, and that’s one reason why technical education appealed to me. Some people can do the class of 250, go home read a chapter in the text book, and then be able to see it in their head. I’m not one of those people. I enjoy the smaller classrooms and more instructor attention that I get at my technical college.
Once students choose a college, I encourage them to research every program and career option, then narrow it down by observing people who work in those fields. That’s how I chose the radiologic technology program at Ogeechee Tech.
Q: Who has been a steadily guiding influence in your life, and why?
MOLLY: I don’t even have to ponder to the answer to this question: it’s my dad. He raised my two sisters and me by himself for the past 12 years. He taught us to be independent, patient and grateful. I can maybe count on one hand the times I’ve truly seen him mad. The worst punishment for us was disappointing him. My dad's patience and strength has kept me going. My sisters and I always try to make him proud. He got married to my stepmother in January of this year, and now has two stepdaughters. So, now he has five daughters - enough for anyone!
Q: Who are your heroes, or people you admire?
MOLLY: While attending college, I work at Willingway Hospital (a drug/alcohol treatment center) here in Statesboro, and I meet people everyday I admire! There are a few who stand out in my head and have really made a special impact; however, I look at every patient there as a hero. They’ve overcome so many adversities, gained courage to make a change, and admitted their faults. How many people can do that on a daily basis? Their strength and courage have made my job there such a blessing.
Q: What are your hobbies and how do you enjoy spending your spare time?
MOLLY: I really and truly don’t have a lot of spare time when school’s in session, plus I work part-time. When I do, I like to read, scrapbook, catch up on Grey's Anatomy and Lost, and hang out with my sisters.
Q: What is your “Big Dream” for the future?
MOLLY: To be a traveling radiographer. Right now, I’m single, young, and have no children. Therefore, the sky’s the limit for me. I want to be able to take my highly skilled healthcare training to places around the world where healthcare’s lacking. I want to take advantage of my education and show others my passion for healthcare.
Q: If you could change the world, you would…..?
MOLLY: Get rid of prejudice. So many people these days still look at others of a different color, gender, age, profession, religion, political party or background and judge them. If I could make everyone realize that we’re all the same and trying to make it like everyone else, I believe we could make a huge difference!
Q: In the nomination form for Student of the Year, your instructor, Jan Martin, referred to your sense of humor and humility – those are outstanding traits for anyone to possess. How do you maintain that sense of humor and what makes you laugh? What is your “philosophy” of being humble?
MOLLY: I absolutely believe everyone should possess a sense of humor and humility. Not everything in life needs to be serious. If you can’t laugh at yourself or mistakes that you’ve made, then that’s a huge detriment. Otherwise, you’ll dwell on it, and it will build up inside you and then turn to guilt and shame.
My philosophy on being humble is you must always believe in yourself and be grateful for what you have and who you are. I think a lot of the time people who are overly confident, deep down, aren’t satisfied with something in themselves. When you truly love yourself, you can love others and be happy for them just the same.
Q: Finally, what do you hope to achieve during the next 12 months as the TCSG’s 2008 technical college Student of the Year?
MOLLY: As the state GOAL winner, I already have an agenda for the year, but I hope to go beyond that. I’m in the process of setting up meetings with some high school counselors, because that’s the audience that needs to be even more aware of technical education’s value. By the end of the year, I hope to have spread the word about technical education and convinced a number of people to attend a technical college. I want everyone to realize how technical education takes you as you are. Therefore, there’s no excuse for not getting a college education.
Throughout the year I plan to stay in contact with the other 35 other college winners from my GOAL competition and work with them as we all promote technical education throughout Georgia.
Visit the GOAL site |
