Andrea Banks always thought about going back to school. It was something she really wanted to do, but making the commitment was not easy, considering she already had a good job selling property and casualty insurance. “The money was okay, and I actually enjoyed the career, however my heart wasn’t in it and I knew that I deserved more money than what I was getting,” she says. “A medical career was something I always wanted, not on the clinical side, but on the administration side of things. I saw a commercial for ECPI University one day and the thing that caught my attention the most was ‘earn your bachelor’s degree in 2.5 years.’ I thought to myself ‘wow, I can do that.’ That’s when my ECPI journey began.”
Andrea enrolled in the Healthcare Administration program, starting as an on-campus student, but quickly realized she needed online classes. “Once I transferred to ECPI online, I knew then that I had made the best choice,” she says. “I totally enjoyed online classes and I find that online classes are what’s best for me, especially with a growing family. Throughout my journey at ECPI, there were so many people there who supported me along the way. I cannot thank them all enough!
“My final externship was at the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Health Equity. I was nervous, but excited to start all at the same time. I made sure that during those five weeks that I got to know everyone in my office by introducing myself and participating in group activities and exercises. I wanted people to know who I was, not just the ‘new intern.’ Right around the time my externship was coming to an end, I applied for a contractor position in the office that had become available. Within two weeks after my externship ended, I got a call for an interview. I was hired as the Health Workforce Coordinator for the State Loan Repayment Tobacco Commission Project.”
As her classes came to an end, another job opened up, the State Health Workforce Coordinator for the Conrad 30 Program. “I knew that was my chance to actually become a state employee and not a contractor,” she says. “I applied for the position and I got the job! My pay increased because my ECPI degree is being recognized and I had the experience from interning and working as a contractor.
“I couldn’t be any happier. I know that my career will only move forward from here. I thank ECPI University from the bottom of my heart for the journey. It was not easy and there were a lot of sacrifices along the way. I always say that it took me 15 years to earn my bachelor’s degree, but I made it.”
“I totally enjoyed online classes and I find that online classes are what’s best for me, especially with a growing family. Throughout my journey at ECPI, there were so many people there who supported me along the way. I cannot thank them all enough!”
– Andrea Banks – 2020 Online Healthcare Administration Graduate
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