Randolph Community College Foundation’s Pledge Program Helps Students Remain in School

For many community college students, the struggle to remain in school can hang on the tiniest thread. That thread came very close to breaking for Ikeisha Harriott, a young mother with four children who has been studying Medical Office Administration at Randolph Community College since the fall of 2010.

Ikeisha’s children range in age from 18 to 4. Her youngest child, Jamar, has congenital heart disease and Asplenia (born without a spleen). Originally from Florida, Ikeisha relocated to North Carolina because her sister’s best friend lived here; because of her move, the doctors at Miami Children’s Hospital referred her to Duke University Medical Center for her toddler’s problems.

It was a snow storm in early March 2009 that placed her in Asheboro. “I fell in love with Asheboro,” said Ikeisha. “I fell in love with the people.” She also said that Asheboro’s education system played a big part in her decision to stay in the area—she had finally found teachers (for her children) who loved to teach. “The teachers here go out of their way to help the students’ progress,” said Ikeisha. “That is unheard of in Florida. My daughter went from a C average to making the honor roll and taking AP classes within a year and a half at Asheboro High School.”

Ikeisha, 34, also wanted to continue her education and originally thought she would study to become a nurse. She was interested in the medical field because of all the doctor visits and hospital visits with her son. “But I couldn’t work because of my son’s medical problems,” she said, so she couldn’t commit to the clinical schedule required for nursing. She enrolled at Randolph Community College and took classes in Office Administration and Nursing Assistant, before finally deciding on Medical Office Administration. She enrolled as a member of RCC’s inaugural MOA class.

For more on this story, go to http://www.randolph.edu/newevents/2012/2012-04-06a.php.