ETHE Ep. 31: Meet NCU’s First President’s Scholarship Recipient

Northcentral University & Rio Salado Community College interview the first President’s Scholarship recipient, Trechaun Gonzalez, who is pursuing a Master of Social Work. This unique initiative has provided an alum of Rio Salado the chance to continue their education at Northcentral University. Join Heather Millward from NCU and Dr. Floyd Hardin III from Rio Salado as they discuss Trechaun’s academic and professional journey.

Transcript

Hello everyone and welcome to emerging trends in higher ed. My name is Samantha Wilcox, and I'm your host for today's podcast. Joining us today is tre Shawn Gonzales, a student and NCU is Master of Social Work Program. Che Shawn will be speaking to Dr. Floyd harden the third the chief of staff at Rio Salado college, and Heather Millward, Senior Manager of academic partnerships at North Central. Hello to you all. And thank you so much for joining us today. Trey Sean is the first recipient of the MCU president's scholarship through partnership with Rio Salado Community College. She works as a clinical care coordinator at Pine Crest Christian mental health services. So let's get started. Heather and Floyd, I believe you have a few questions for Trey, Sean today. Thank you, Samantha. Good afternoon, everyone. Hope everyone is doing well. We are so excited to be here. So our first question, Miss tre Shawn, this is a two part question. So you are an alum of Rio Salado Community College. And now you attend North Central University. Share with us if you will, how is online learning benefited you number one. And number two, what made you choose Rio Salado college to start?

01:15

Yeah, so I feel like um, online learning has just been really great as I've started entering the work field as I can balance now school and work. So I started my first Rio Salado class was the summer in between my courses and undergrad, which was just an opportunity to extend my learning. And then beyond that I had an opportunity to earn my certificate in juvenile justice. And so I was working full time as a corrections officer in a juvenile facility. And so it was really nice to be able to still earn that certificate while still working full time. And so it's just been really helpful and balancing like, adult life in school at the same time.

02:07

And thank you and what made you choose Rio Salado?

02:11

Um, I actually found out about Rio through my mom who has taken lots of online classes through Rio. So I've just always kind of had Rio Salado books throughout my house. And so it just kind of made sense to like, Well, yeah, I'll just take classes here. They have courses that I'm interested in, and that I felt like can further my career. So just kind of made sense at that point.

02:37

And Trisha, and I know that we've been a partner with Rio Salado for many years, but we've just started the president scholarship in the last year. How did you come across it and what prompted you to apply for it?

02:50

Yeah, so it was completely by chance. I just happened to get an email from Rio Salado about the president scholarship, I had been looking for a school to start my masters of social work program, and I just wasn't sure how I would go about paying for it. It was something that I had been praying for and my family had been praying for. And so when I got this email was one of those moments of like, Okay, this is what I've been asking for, I'm gonna apply and see how it goes. So it worked out very well, I must say. So very proud.

03:26

Well, I can say what and I have been involved in this process together since the very beginning. And I know that this was the first time I've awarded a scholarship and it was so inspiring and thrilling to be able to get on a zoom call with you and award it. It was it was a great day. very inspirational. So what were your initial thoughts when you heard that you had won the scholarship?

03:52

Um, it was one of those moments of like, answered prayers so much. Like I said, this has been something that I've been wanting to do. It was not in my original plan to wait two years to go back to school. But financially, it just wasn't feasible to go back to school. And so, again, I had just been waiting for an opportunity to finish my degrees to further my career. And so when I finally like, was told that I got this I was just like, yes, like, now I can do this. Now. I know exactly where I'm going. Then Yeah, just the biggest thing, just like a huge answer to prayer, and I feel like I kept saying that I just was like, This is exactly what I had been asking for. And so it was just a moment of praise really, as I got that news and was just like, Alright, let's do this.

04:50

Well, you about made me cry during it.

04:53

It was such a beautiful moment. I'm glad we were able to surprise you. It was ya know, authentic and so wonderful to see your reaction.

05:00

Yeah, I was at work too. And I had been like, anxiously checking my emails beforehand. And so I was at work. And then I got this. And I was like, Oh my gosh, okay, we had a compose ourselves like, here we go. This is the moment. So it was really great to get that goodness.

05:16

Well, I'm always interested to hear folk stories. Like I know, this is one of the stories that I absolutely, absolutely love. And so just shifting gears just a little bit for Shawn, I'm just always wondering, what made you choose your career path of Social Work? Do you feel that you chose it? Or it chose you?

05:35

Yeah, that's a good question. Um, it took me a long time to get to social work. I started in undergrad studying psychology and neuroscience. And I did a lot of genetics research. And I knew I wanted to work somewhere within criminal justice. But it wasn't actually until I started working in the juvenile facilities and started working at Pine Ross, that I realized that I wanted to create programs that were going to be beneficial for people that needed them. I was really bothered by the idea of like, well, we offer this service, but they keep cycling in and out of our services. 

And so that was just where it started, I wasn't sure what program would allow me to work somewhere within that. And then after researching North Central actually, and kind of getting some more information and talking with professors as I applied to the college, it just became a little more clear that this is exactly what I needed to do. And I've had more of that affirmation as I have continued through my classes and continued working at pinteres. So it's been really, really encouraging. I feel like, as I know, as I started to learn more and more what I want to do in my career,

06:52

and your journey, do you think that there was like a defining moment that you have that was like a defining moment, or an aha moment that was like, Oh, this is it? This is what I want to do? 

07:02

Yeah. So I think it was when I first started at Pine rest, I started as a psychiatric technician. So basically doing like basic care, and focusing mostly on care and security. And I found myself really focusing more on how to how to find the most effective ways to treat our clients. And so I spent, I was working a lot of third shifts at that time. So I spent, like all of my third shifts, developing programs and group ideas and therapy ideas. And I think that was the moment where I was like, if I can spend eight hours straight just sitting here, like developing these new programs, this is probably what I should be doing with my life. So yeah.

07:50

Well, and I know last time we chatted a few months ago, you had just been promoted in. So congrats on that.

07:57

Thank you.

07:59

And do you want to tell us a little bit about I know, you told us what you were doing but and developing curriculum. But do you want to tell us a little bit about the position and how your education is gonna play into your future plans?

08:13

Yeah, so now I am the clinical care coordinator. So essentially, what that means is I have about 10 clients with severe mental disorders, who are a part of the adult foster care system. And I create treatment plans for them, basically, that are just goals for what they need to do in order to transition to a lower level of care. So I meet with these clients on a weekly basis, come up with goals come up with realistic goals as well. And trying to try to brainstorm ways that they can attain these goals, which for them is kind of is difficult for a lot of people depending on where they're at, cognitively. 

But I think that's something that's been unique is that I'm constantly working with them to reach these goals. And sometimes it takes a lot of repetitive. No, this is the goal that you wanted. So let's take these steps to achieve them. I've also had opportunities since being in this position to be on a policy developing team where we're just working through policy for staffing. So that's been really great, as I'm learning that in my classes to be able to apply it to the group that I'm in now. And I've also been very heavily working on programming. So I'm in another team that is developing a year long curriculum for all of our groups, that stuff that makes it easier for staff to facilitate these groups rather than just relying on them to kind of figure it out on their own. So I do a little bit of everything and kind of all over the place. But the bulk of my job is treatment planning And working on getting our clients to lower levels care.

10:05

For Shawn, as you are on your career and educational journey, what do you think is the scariest part? What do you think is the best part? And would what would one word of wisdom be for students looking to transfer into ncu and continue their education?

10:24

Yeah, I think the scariest part is, even though I know, like, I want to work in the field of social work, I still don't know what my like job career is going to be called. So I want to do treatment planning. But I want to do this within the criminal justice system. And so I feel like that's something that is lacking where we send these people here to rehabilitate, but we don't offer opportunities for that. And so that's what I want to do. But I don't know if there's even a position for that. So that's kind of scary, I've been doing some research and trying to figure out the best ways to do that. 

The best part, though, is to see that there are so many ways that I can do this, I can go into policy, I can go into working individually with clients, or with offenders, or I can do programming, which is what I want to do. So it Social Work offers such a huge range of opportunities for me to be able to do that. And I feel like North Central with my professors at least have been really great at communicating that with me, as I go through my courses, and I try to apply what they're teaching me and what I'm learning into my field, they're very clear about, okay, this is what's realistic. And it's not just what's in a book, it's not just what you're reading in the journals, this is this is real life. And this is how to apply this in real life. So I feel like North Central is really great at doing that.

12:03

And I was going to ask to touch on with the pandemic. Obviously, there's a lot of adjustments for all of us, but I'm sure when you're looking at treatment plans and trying to figure out the best course. What would you say something that you've had to adapt with your own treatment plans with your clients as as we move forward? Through the last, you know, last year, and then now?

12:29

Yeah, so a big part of transitioning them to a lower level of care is preparing them to be contributing members of society. And right now, we cannot do that, because everything is closed. So there's not as many opportunities to get them into job skills, training out in the community to provide volunteer opportunities. And so there's less structure with that. And so I think it's been deflating for several of our clients who are ready to like leave. But it's also made me more creative and figuring out how do we actually prepare them for life outside of pine rest, because it's not just these four walls in this house, there's so much more. And there's so much more that you have to learn when you're interacting with people in the community, and you have jobs. And so it's been a little difficult. But still, like I said, just trying to find creative ways to get them out into the community and learn what that looks like.

13:36

And I know that you just finished your fourth fourth class.

13:39

Yes, ma'am.

13:41

Um, what would you say in terms of your classes? or What advice would you give to students considering, you know, pursuing their education right now? What would you what kind of advice would you give to them?

13:56

Um, this seems kind of cliche. And I feel like if you're in school, this is always what you hear. But Time management is the biggest thing, especially, I feel like North Central does a really great job of catering to working adults. But that doesn't mean that it's easy as a working adult, you still have to find time to do your readings to write your papers. I really appreciate that, at least in my MSW program, there aren't like tests or quizzes or anything like that. So there is more flexibility. But you still got to figure out time to read and to get through it and then apply it. Meeting with whoever you're working, especially if you're working in that field that you are studying, meeting with people that are higher up than you and actually figuring out what this looks like. Realistically in terms of organizations and communities in therapy and that kind of stuff.

14:51

Such as Shawn, as you think about your own education journey, and you just gave really great advice. I think as professionals time management, it never goes away. Um, what do you think was the big the biggest and the best resource that helped you become successful. So as you think about your time at reo? What wraparound or student service did reo provide? That helps you be successful? And then now that you've transferred into ncu? What service student service? Do you think ncu has helped you be successful?

15:25

Yeah, so I feel like I've used a lot of, I don't know what it would be called. But a lot of like writing services. And, and adjusting, especially after being out of school for two years, you kind of forget, like what APA format is, and what that should look like. And so I really tried to take advantage of using that and allowing, and asking someone else to review this to make sure that I'm writing as I should be writing. So I've used that a lot. And then really just the professors, I've been in contact with my professors quite a bit in terms of communicating what I need, asking questions that I have. And so it's the combination of both of them, that I feel like has been really helpful, or central also has a really great library. So I'm in the library, online a lot, looking for lots of different things that I need. So I feel like those are the three services that I'm constantly using.

16:23

That's great to hear about the library, I know that we've really improved upon it over the years. What is Is there anything that you feel be helpful from reo or NC moving forward? Any suggestions you see, as you've gone through both of our programs that you think would be helpful for student learners.
16:40

I'm not saying this just because I feel like I need to say this, but I don't feel like there's much that I feel like is missing. I've my professors have been really good at communicating what services are available North Central, if I have any questions like I can call him like, they know who to direct me to. So I don't really feel like at this moment that I'm like, trying to figure things out on my own. It's very community focused, even though it is online, which is kind of a weird dynamic. But I don't just feel like I'm out in the water, trying to figure things out on my own. So I feel good right now. We'll see as I continue, but right now I'm like, upset.

17:21

That's really good to hear. And we and we obviously love to hear that I'm, I'm a big proponent of community colleges, and I started community college before I transferred on and an alum of ncu. So it's always great to connect. And I know that as we move forward, and as you become an alum, I look forward to welcome welcoming you to our alumni community. Yeah, that's exciting. It's scary to think that's gonna be coming. But it's very exciting.

17:50

So Shawn, we have one more question for you. Number one, thank you so much for your time and consideration today. But one more question. Last question. For the audience. Would you help describe the application process? What you know, you are, you are our inaugural recipient, we are so excited about. And as Heather and I move forward, and our institutions move forward? Can you explain a little bit about the application process? And if you had any suggestions or improvements there?

18:16

Yeah, I feel like it was pretty straightforward, which I really appreciate it, I was expecting a very like, long and thorough application process. But if you're going to be applying for this scholarship, my advice is to know what you're passionate about, because I feel like that's what I wrote about. I didn't know what I was going to be studying yet. I had an idea, but I wasn't really sure what that would look like, in the long run. But I knew what I wanted to do. And I knew what I was passionate about. And so I think that is what helped me even though I didn't have like a clear goal in the future. I knew exactly like, this is what I'm passionate about. And I need help doing it. And so I think if you have that, then I felt like Rio and North Central are very open and celebrate that rub in so you don't have to have it all figured out, as well as transit. Just know what you're passionate. 

Well, on behalf of Rio NCU, Floyd myself, we want to thank you so much for your time today and for joining us. And I know you're in Michigan, I'm in Phoenix, Floyd's in New York. So it's to have this collaborative effort and be able to chat and thank you so much for joining us and be part of this discussion. Yeah, thank you for having me. I appreciate this opportunity and just the help that North Central has given me in terms of pursuing my career, so I really appreciate it.

19:54

Awesome. Well, like Heather said, Thank you all for spending some time with us today. And Shawn, sharing about your experience. We wish you continued success as you progress through your program and are really excited to see where your degree takes you and all of the impact that you continue to make. To hear more from ncu. Visit emerging trends in higher ed podcast found on your preferred media platform. Until next time, goodbye.