Honors student Allison Ross began her studies at Paradise Valley Community College in the fall of 2016, not realizing the impact her professors, the PVCC community and its STEM program were going to have on her education and future plans.
In the beginning, Allison said PVCC was more about convenience and affordability but quickly evolved into so much more. “Everyone here is so invested in my success. It pushes me harder and makes me want to succeed even more than I already do,” she said.
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, and is a growing program at the college. Every facet of STEM skills are at the core of learning and exploring various careers. Students discover that what they learn here is opening a world of possibilities for their future.
Professor Casey Durandet explained that STEM aligns students interests with their strengths, giving them a broader range of career opportunities. They aren’t pigeon-holed into doing one thing.
Allison plans to apply her STEM skills in the medical field. Currently, her Honors’ project is focused in STEM and she will be taking the MCAT next fall. If all goes well, she intends to apply to medical school and wants to become a Pediatric physician, specializing in gastroenterology.
To learn more about the STEM program and to hear from STEM alumni, RSVP at http://bit.ly/STEM_Alumni. They host a panel discussion at which former students discuss how they have forged careers in competitive fields, ideas for when you are unsure of your career path, transfer information for STEM majors, plus much more. Meetings are held in KSC 1000A from 2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. on February 19th.