FINDING A FLEXIBLE CAREER

Marantha Smith of Denton is Finishing her final semester at NCTC and on track to receive her Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems and Technology in May, As a homeschooler who graduated high school in 2013, she says she spent two years working toward a bachelor's degree in Music Therapy before she chose her new path.

Although a Music Therapy degree remains a goal, Smith says university life right after high school "was not the right time" for her. She Struggles and eventually dropped out, then found employment in the food industry. Not long after, she married and when she became pregnant, she began "dabbling with web design and compute hardware/software courses online. Interest grew and she found her way to NCTC and its Tech classes - even qualifying for a TechHire grant along the way.

Smith delivered her son during her first Semester at NCTC, but still continued with her studies.

Marantha Smith

" MY time at NCTC has been one of the most positive, resourceful, and rewarding school experiences I have had" she says. "I've been to four different institutions between dual credit in high school, summer courses, and university. I have never felt more supported and cared about on a personal level, not just as a number in the system."

More Specifically, Smith says she enjoys the flexibility she perceives in this type of work, noting she can work wherever her computer is. "It's also extremely challenging and constantly changing," she adds. " and there's always more to learn. Finally, getting a program that you've worked hours or even days on is extremely rewarding."

Eventually, Smith plans to work toward a bachelor's in Computer Science - oh, and pick up on those Music Therapy studies as well.