Becoming a healthcare provider has been a career goal of Imelda G. Guevara for years. But, the opportunity looked dim for the Zapata resident, considering that the nearest health sciences school is about 50 miles away and she has a family to care for at home.
This spring, however, Guevara completed the first semester of her allied health degree at Laredo Community College with the aid of innovative computer technology. Guevara took the first step to becoming an occupational therapy assistant (OTA) thanks to new online classes offered at LCC.
This semester, students such as Guevara, had access to take two Internet courses—Abnormal Psychology and Basic Principles of Occupational Therapy—to fulfill the requirements toward an associate’s degree in Occupational Therapy Assistant.
With this helpful option, Guevara was enrolled in two online courses and two on-campus classes. She, along with two other Zapata students, had to commute only twice a week to Laredo.
“The online classes were a blessing,” said Guevara. “My classmates and I traveled less, saved gas money, and, personally, I was able to handle my responsibilities as a student and as a parent of two children.”
Guevara, a first-time online student, especially enjoyed the flexibility that this innovative study option offered her.
“I had no problem getting accustomed to the online classes, and it’s (online instruction) great because you’re not tied to a specific time to study,” Guevara explained.
Guevara looks forward to realizing her career goal at LCC. She plans to take more online courses in the future.
Anyone interested in becoming an occupational therapy assistant is encouraged to apply for admission to the two-year associate’s degree program. The deadline to apply is June 10 for fall 2004 admission. For more information, contact OTA Coordinator Terri Gonzalez at 721-5460 or trgon@laredo.edu, or call the LCC Allied Health Department at 721-5261.
The Center for Distance Learning at LCC offers an array of off-campus classes to make it possible for students to study anytime and anyplace. The summer class schedule includes Internet courses in Art, Accounting, Biology, Computers, Dance, Macroeconomics, English, Government, History, Kinesiology, Math, Medical Terminology, Music, Psychology, Sociology Early Childhood Education and Speech, and much more. For more information, call 721-5211 or log on to www.laredo.edu/newdl.
Zapata resident Imelda Guevara is realizing her career goal with distance education opportunities available at Laredo Community College.
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