As part of this ongoing series, we’ve given you a look at each of Westwood College’s campuses through the eyes of the extraordinary winners of our PATH to Success Gold-level Scholarship in both Virginia and Illinois.
Next up is our Denver campus, where David Parsons and Melvin Marshall have set their sights on the next steps toward their careers of choice.
As a reminder, the Westwood College PATH to Success Scholarship program rewards enrolled students who are taking control of their futures through dedicated career planning and action.
Melvin Marshall
Campus: Denver North campus
Studying: Business Administration
Expected Graduation Year: 2014
Though Melvin Marshall can see his future laid out before him, he is making it happen one step at a time. He plans to complete his associate degree in Business Administration at Westwood, return to finish his bachelor’s degree, and then launch his own non-profit organization for at-risk youth.
He says the objective of his future organization will be to help give children of single-parent households “the needed experience and opportunity to visualize a productive future and take the proper steps to make it a reality.” Melvin acknowledges that many children in urban communities may not be aware of the full range of career opportunities available to them and believes that demonstrating this to young people can be the key to following the right path.
In pursuit of his goals, Melvin has joined the Phi Beta Lambda business club at Westwood and, through it, met a group of students who help keep him motivated. He says, “I have been working with the club president in recruiting new members, and we were able to double the size of our membership.”
He has also taken advantage of the career fairs at Westwood’s Denver North campus and, in August of 2012, he participated in the Fall National Leadership Conference in Denver. He calls the event “priceless,” saying, “I began to network with other students and that inspired me, as well as gave me the confidence to network with the working professionals who were hosting the seminars.” Melvin was able to make contacts that he believes may help him land a job or prove to be valuable in the start up of his non-profit.
Connections through the business club also have meant opportunities to volunteer in school activities, such as those hosted by the Gaming Club, and a chance to participate in a state Future Business Leaders of America competition.
His words of advice: “If you can visualize your goals, you shall know what your future holds.”
David Parsons
Campus: Denver South campus
Studying: Medical Assisting
Expected Graduation Year: 2014
For David Parsons, there’s no excuse not to get to class. As a student with stellar grades, he has yet to miss a class at Westwood — even while facing a lengthy daily commute and a job outside of school. He plans to maintain perfect attendance for the entire duration of his associate degree program. It’s key to maintaining good grades, he says.
David currently works as part of a construction crew on electric projects, but believes pursuing a career in healthcare will offer more opportunity. He sees school as a critical “phase one” in reaching his goal of becoming a certified medical assistant — one who brings “sincerity, dedication and professionalism to every circumstance in a professional medical setting.”
Even on non-school-related visits to the doctor’s office or while accompanying friends or family to healthcare facilities, David seizes the opportunity, saying, “I take note of the differing roles within the office and I interact with and engage people.” His attentiveness has not gone unnoticed in such settings. In fact, one doctor who picked up on his interest has invited him to submit his resume to her clinic.
In the meantime, David meets regularly with his career advisor and is prepared for the diligence and multi-channeled approach that a thorough job search will involve.
With a wide array of interests ranging from gardening to jogging to family time (he describes his mother and sister as his best friends), it’s perhaps no surprise that David’s long-term plans involve a return to higher education to study a completely different field: law.
His words of advice: “If you want to enter college to party, you had better be rich because you will more than likely repeat one or multiple classes.”
The PATH to Success Scholarship program awards nearly $70,000 in total annually and has an application deadline in May of each year. If you have a career plan and are taking action on it to ensure you get meaningful work when you graduate, you are encouraged to apply next spring.