Wylie Family Shares Keys To A Successful College Career

by Mark Saldaña

Family, education, hard work, resiliency, and dedication are just a few words of many to describe the Appiah family. Rawlings Appiah Djomoah, a graduate of Collin College and Tracy Appiah, a current student at the Collin College Wylie Campus, are a father and daughter who reside in Wylie and are tremendously hard-working people with enough ambition to reach the stars.

The Appiahs immigrated from Ghana in 2010 and Rawlings prioritized education by attending Collin College while working fulltime and raising a family. The journey has not been easy for the Appiahs. Rawlings currently works as an overnight nurse at Richardson Methodist Hospital and not only holds a Master of Nursing degree but is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in nursing at the University of Texas at Arlington.

“When we came from Ghana, I realized that education was the best option for me,” Rawlings said. “I worked at various places before going to school, and one thing that stuck with me is when you have a degree, or degrees, you have a more secure job than someone who doesn’t have one.”

With Rawlings’ guidance and support for his daughter Tracy, she is chasing her ultimate dream to become a neurosurgeon. She is currently pursuing an Associate of Science degree at Collin, and once that’s completed, she plans to transfer to the University of Texas at Tyler’s premedical program and then, medical school. Her father says education is one of the best values he has passed down to his children.

“I believe education is very important to one’s success,” Tracy said. “I think that if someone is not sure if they want to pursue college or not, they should definitely at least give it a try at Collin, because I think it is a great starting point to whichever career you wish to pursue.”

Rawlings said that the combination of work, school, and time was a tough challenge while adjusting their lives in a new country far from home.

“It was very difficult for us to reach this level,” Rawlings said. “There were a lot of bumps on the road, but thankfully, now it seems like our feet are on the ground.”

For Rawlings, family is invaluable, so he makes it a point to spend time with them by putting up decorations together during the holidays, cooking, and listening to holiday music. •

To apply or register for classes at the Wylie Campus, visit www.collin.edu/campuses/wylie.

For more information about Collin College, visit our website www.collin.edu.