High school freshmen get closer look at MCC health care careers
“I think this is cool.”
Meridian High School ninth-grader James Burkes summed up what he thought when he saw high-fidelity manikins mimicking human actions, such as breathing and eye blinking, at Meridian Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing Simulation Lab.
Burkes and 35 other Meridian High honor roll male students participated in a unique day-long camp, Experience the O.N.E. – Occupations Not Usually Explored by Men, at the College. This session was made possible through a grant from Mississippi Community College Board. The grant’s objective is to recruit males in non-traditional fields of work.
The first-year high school students toured health care programs, including the Associate Degree Nursing, Medical Lab Technology, Respiratory Care Practitioner, Medical Assisting, Surgical Technology, Health Information Technology, Physical Therapist Assistant, and Emergency Medical Technology.
Holli Cobb, one of the ninth-grade counselors at MHS, joined the students in touring the programs. “It’s really helpful. Several students will find something they’re interested in that they never really thought about before. They get the exposure of career options, and for some, it’s the first time they’re on a college campus,” she said.
“Experience the O.N.E. camp is designed to provide a bridge for these students to move from their high school classrooms to the practical applications of hands-on learning and then to employment,” said Lori Smith, MCC dean of workforce education.
And since many high school students are undecided about their careers, the camp offers students a chance to make a more informed choice about their future, Smith added.
In addition to touring the campus programs, the students heard from Dr. Wes Garrison, a guest speaker from Anderson Regional Medical Center, and awards were presented at the end of the day.