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STUDENT SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT - May 2006

Ashley Dawn Rawlings

Administrative Support Technology - General Office Specialization

Ashley Dawn Rawlings of Gretna is a first-year student in the Administrative Support Technology -- General Office Specialization program. She is the daughter of Junior and Susan Rawlings and is a 2005 graduate of Gretna High School. She chose DCC because she wanted to stay close to home.

“The Administrative Support Technology (AST) program at DCC seemed like a good profession for me,” says Rawlings, who adds she is a first generation college student, meaning she is the first person in her family to earn a college degree.

‘Since I am the first in my family to attend college, there is some pressure to do well, but everyone is cheering for me,” says Rawlings who adds that most of her family members chose factory work. “I wanted to do something different. They all want to see me succeed.”

Rawlings admits that after completing high school, she, too, thought briefly about skipping college and going immediately into the workforce. But after considering her options from a long-term perspective, she says she realized that continuing her education would be the wiser choice.

Rawlings says the ideal job for her would be to work as an office manager or administrative assistant at an elementary school so she could combine her interest in computers with her love for children.

“My mom and dad were my encouragement to come to DCC,” she says. “They wanted me to have a better chance for a good job. Some of my cousins and aunts have taken college classes before, but they never received a degree. They also inspired me to do it – come to DCC.”

Rawlings says she was very nervous when she entered DCC in Fall 2005 because she didn’t know anyone or anything about campus life.

“I felt unsure about a lot of things - where everything was and how to get to my classes,” she says. Since then, she also had to overcome her apprehension of writing classes, which she says was one of her weaker subjects at first. She says this fear is being alleviated as she becomes more familiar with her subjects and more confident about writing.

One course that was particularly helpful to Rawlings was “College Success Skills”, which emphasizes study skills, career and academic planning, and prepares students in their transition to college.

Rawlings also participated in a Learning Community for students in the Administrative Support Technology program. Learning Communities group students who are taking similar classes and sharing experiences.

“I didn’t know what a learning community was at first, but after I enrolled in the College Success Skills course, the professor explained what was involved. It sounded interesting,” she says. “I liked the learning community because we were all in the same classes, and that made me more comfortable in meeting people.

“Even though I didn’t know most of the students before, I’ve made friends with many of them,” she adds noting that she and her “new” friends often study together.

Rawlings has become involved in campus activities, including membership in the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP). The 19-year-old has also worked for two years at Subway (restaurant) as a sandwich artist. Her instructors are very complimentary of Rawlings work in the classroom, saying she is well on her way to achieving success.

“Ashley is a very quiet student who always faces the challenge of learning with a positive attitude. I’ve never heard Ashley make a negative comment about any assignments she is assigned,” says Frances Carter, Assistant Professor of Administrative Support Technology and an advisor to the IAAP. “Ashley sees learning as a growth process. She doesn’t mind sharing what she knows with others who seek her counsel. I expect Ashley to be an extremely successful administrative professional.”

Enhancing student success is a focus at DCC. The College was recently selected to participate in Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count, a national initiative that promotes change to improve student success at community colleges. Funds from Achieving the Dream make possible many of the DCC student resources such as the College Success Skills course, learning communities, and free tutoring.

The Associate in Applied Science Degree in Administrative Support Technology is a two-year program of study with three specializations: General Office, Legal and Medical Office. The General Office specialization provides the broad-based knowledge and skills needed in many different types of businesses. The Legal specialization is geared specifically to individuals who want a career as a legal secretary or an entry-level paralegal. The Medical Office specialization offers training needed to work in a medical environment with specific instruction in medical insurance coding and medical transcription.

“I would encourage others to attend DCC since it is a smaller college you’ll get more attention from the teachers. You will like DCC because you will be able to figure out what you want to do. The faculty members are the best thing about the college because they are extra nice and want you to succeed,” says Rawlings.

For more information about the Administrative Support Technology program, contact Carter at 434.797-8525 or Dr. Betty Jo Foster, Professor of Administrative Support Technology at 434.797.8428.