About

Double Duty

Frances Young had a unique problem in the final term of her Pharmacy Technician diploma program at the Lynchburg Campus: remembering what uniform to wear to work. That can be a problem when you are completing your externship at one national pharmacy chain, and you get hired in your field at a competing pharmacy. “[One] had a white jacket, and [the other] has a blue jacket…so I had two jackets in my car,” Frances explained with a big smile. “I had to keep changing and make sure I don’t go in the wrong pharmacy with the wrong jacket!”

Thanks to help from National’s career center, Frances was able to find a good job in her field before she had even finished her program. “I enjoy it all, I’m learning new things, I’m meeting new people,” she said. “I’m learning different types of meds and what they’re for, and their side effects…I’m just learning new stuff. I’m having fun with it.”

I really had a good time here

Frances’ interest in pharmacology came from her previous career in nursing. Encountering such a wide variety of medications used in treating patients, she wanted to know more. Given the opportunity to return to school through the Workforce Investment Act, Frances checked out National College and liked what she saw. “A lot of people told me…‘oh, you should go to [the community college]’,” Frances added. When she went there to take an assessment test, however, she didn’t like the environment. “It wasn’t as personable as National was,” she said. “You can’t just get on a conveyor belt and roll your way through it.” That experience was enough to convince her that her first choice, National, was the right one.

While Frances was enthusiastic about nearly all of her classes, her math class presented a special challenge. “I had to get a tutor for that math, I’ve always hated math,” she admitted. “But I ended up getting a ‘B’ in it, so I’m kind of proud of myself.”

You can’t just get on a conveyor belt and roll your way through it

Now, she is happy in a job in a field she loves. National made it a reality for her. “I had a lot of good instructors…I really had a good time here,” Frances said. “It was something to look forward to after a long day of work.”