Made for a high-wage, high demand career: How earning a degree online led to a career change

Meriah Martinez has a passion for caring for others.

She’s worked as a pharmacy technician for 14 years, providing quality patient care, yet Meriah felt a pull to challenge herself professionally.

That’s when she decided to earn an associate degree in Health Information Technology entirely online at St. Philip’s College.

“I decided to pursue healthcare because of job stability. There will always be a market for healthcare workers, and I felt pharmacy technician was the quickest way in. Now, I want to pursue a different area of healthcare. That’s why I decided to come back,” Meriah shares.

This attempt was not Meriah’s first time in college. She had made progress years before and fell short of finishing due to her busy schedule.

However, choosing to pursue her degree online was a game-changer. As a dedicated mother and wife, Meriah’s days are packed. She juggles work, taking her kids to school, and organizing carpools to football practices.

The convenience of online learning allowed her to integrate learning into her daily routine.

“I can work on my lunch break or at my sons' practices. I take my laptop and do assignments on the bleachers. It’s convenient."

Returning to school after years away made Meriah anxious. There were times when she felt like giving up but found the strength to push through — thanks to her determination and a supportive community of classmates.

"When I first began, I was nervous, but once classes started, other students would ask if anyone wanted to participate in a study group or start a text chain. If we had issues with assignments, we’d message each other or FaceTime,” shared Meriah.

The support didn’t stop with her peers. She also felt uplifted by her professors.

“The professors are nice, helpful, and responsive to messages. They would give me that encouragement when I needed it. It’s really helpful.”

Meriah is now a strong advocate for online learning at the Alamo Colleges, sharing the benefits of its flexibility and high-demand program offerings with everyone she knows.

She’s even convincing her son to earn his certification at St. Philip’s College.

Like Meriah, you’re made for a high-wage, high-demand career. Get started on fulfilling your dreams of earning a degree bycontacting an enrollment coach today!