Going Back to School Means Challenge But Also Excitement for Pitt County Woman
http://www.pcwomensjournal.com/articles/8653/1/Going-Back-to-School-Means-Challenge-But-Also-Excitement-for-Pitt-County-Woman/Page1.html
Persida Montanez
Persida Montenez is a communication student at East Carolina University. By Persida Montanez
Published on 12/30/2011
Vickie Wilkinson loves learning, the
outdoors and helping others. She is also 55 years old and a highly
motivated college student who says, “Nothing is impossible.”
Vickie is the wife of Campus Minister Scott Wilkinson of the Wesley Foundation of Greenville, which “strives to provide a Christ-centered home-away-from-home for the college students of East Carolina University and Pitt Community College” through fellowship, local and international mission trips, study and service.
Vickie Wilkinson loves learning, the outdoors and helping others. She is also 55 years old and a highly motivated college student who says, “Nothing is impossible.”
Vickie is the wife of Campus Minister Scott Wilkinson of the Wesley Foundation of Greenville, which “strives to provide a Christ-centered home-away-from-home for the college students of East Carolina University and Pitt Community College” through fellowship, local and international mission trips, study and service.
Those students are drawn to Vickie’s open manner and bubbly personality.
“I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have students in my office talking to me when I worked as the office assistant,” Vickie says. “They were always telling me about life and school. I was always a little jealous of all they were learning in school.”
Vickie moved out of her parents’ home at 16. She finished high school and earned a certification in health information management, but deep down she always wanted a college degree. She has worked at Dorothea Dix, private mental hospitals, and alcohol and drug facilities. At one point she was one of the vice presidents of Smart Photography, a medical photography company, where she earned six figures. She then came to the realization that, “I am somebody. I’m smart.”
She discussed her desire to go back to school with her husband and went for the dream.
“I have always wanted to be Mrs. Grant, my third grade teacher,” Vickie relates, adding that she is studying school age education at Beaufort Community College and hopes to work in the public school system. She would also like to work for an after school program, a church program or school.
She started by taking one class in the summer of 2010, and began her second full year in school this fall. She has approximately two more years to go before she gets her degree.
“I love to learn. I get so excited. I want to learn everything I can possibly learn. I’m like a kid in a candy shop.”
While being back is school is a dream come true, it isn’t always easy.
“It’s harder to retain information now,” she says. “I have to study constantly in order for my information to stick.”
The Wilkinson household has also changed. After Vickie left her job as office assistant at the Wesley Foundation to go back to school, her husband, Scott, had to get a second job.
“While my jobs are relatively flexible, when I have free time she’s usually really busy with school work,” Scott states. “I don’t even remember working that hard when I was in school.” Both agree that, although one of them going back to college entails sacrifices, it is a fulfilling experience.
“If you live in fear, you will never grow,” Vickie relates. She gets a thrill by accomplishing things that she once believed were too hard. “It’s self-fulfilling to prove to those who have said you can’t do it and to prove it to yourself too.”
Vickie Wilkinson loves learning, the
outdoors and helping others. She is also 55 years old and a highly
motivated college student who says, “Nothing is impossible.” Vickie is the wife of Campus Minister Scott Wilkinson of the Wesley Foundation of Greenville, which “strives to provide a Christ-centered home-away-from-home for the college students of East Carolina University and Pitt Community College” through fellowship, local and international mission trips, study and service.
Vickie Wilkinson loves learning, the outdoors and helping others. She is also 55 years old and a highly motivated college student who says, “Nothing is impossible.” Vickie is the wife of Campus Minister Scott Wilkinson of the Wesley Foundation of Greenville, which “strives to provide a Christ-centered home-away-from-home for the college students of East Carolina University and Pitt Community College” through fellowship, local and international mission trips, study and service.
Those students are drawn to Vickie’s open manner and bubbly personality.
“I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have students in my office talking to me when I worked as the office assistant,” Vickie says. “They were always telling me about life and school. I was always a little jealous of all they were learning in school.”
Vickie moved out of her parents’ home at 16. She finished high school and earned a certification in health information management, but deep down she always wanted a college degree. She has worked at Dorothea Dix, private mental hospitals, and alcohol and drug facilities. At one point she was one of the vice presidents of Smart Photography, a medical photography company, where she earned six figures. She then came to the realization that, “I am somebody. I’m smart.”
She discussed her desire to go back to school with her husband and went for the dream.
“I have always wanted to be Mrs. Grant, my third grade teacher,” Vickie relates, adding that she is studying school age education at Beaufort Community College and hopes to work in the public school system. She would also like to work for an after school program, a church program or school.
She started by taking one class in the summer of 2010, and began her second full year in school this fall. She has approximately two more years to go before she gets her degree.
“I love to learn. I get so excited. I want to learn everything I can possibly learn. I’m like a kid in a candy shop.”
While being back is school is a dream come true, it isn’t always easy.
“It’s harder to retain information now,” she says. “I have to study constantly in order for my information to stick.”
The Wilkinson household has also changed. After Vickie left her job as office assistant at the Wesley Foundation to go back to school, her husband, Scott, had to get a second job.
“While my jobs are relatively flexible, when I have free time she’s usually really busy with school work,” Scott states. “I don’t even remember working that hard when I was in school.” Both agree that, although one of them going back to college entails sacrifices, it is a fulfilling experience.
“If you live in fear, you will never grow,” Vickie relates. She gets a thrill by accomplishing things that she once believed were too hard. “It’s self-fulfilling to prove to those who have said you can’t do it and to prove it to yourself too.”