Community College of Baltimore County

““I wanted to become a dental hygienist , and CCBC offered one of the few accredited programs in Maryland,” she explains. “They accepted me into a program where I could obtain the job I loved.””

““The teachers go above and beyond to prepare students for the national licensing exam,” Carleigh adds.”

““People either think we play with puppies and kittens all day or that we are doctors who can diagnose and prescribe medicine,” she says. “While we love a good puppy visit, we are there to support veterinarians in many ways, from educating clients to performing treatment plans written out by the veterinarian, much like a nurse in human medicine.””

““The hands-on experience on campus and during internships helps prepare you for the realities of working in animal care,” says Carleigh.”

“The offer to teach mortuary science at CCBC came sooner than I thought and I jumped right on it; it’s been great. Leadership here is so supportive of this program in words and action.”

“I really love having a job that I am passionate about. I think that now is really the moment to be moving into sustainable horticulture as an industry. Sustainability, understanding plants and understanding ecosystem relationships really are the direction that the landscape is moving toward.”

“That opportunity for hands-on learning in a classroom with professionals in the field is unmatched.”

“A big piece of the CCBC program that influenced me was the emphasis on sustainability, striking a balance between native and non-native plants, being able to recognize and avoid invasive plants and making sure that we were providing garden designs that were resilient, beautiful and eco-beneficial at the same time.”

“I wanted to feel really confident going out into the world and talking to people about plants, giving them the right information and making the right choices for their gardens.”

“A community college program made more sense than going to a four-year university because I knew it was going to be small classes, hands-on and community-centered. [CCBC] is affordable; they have a lot of really great scholarships.”