Computer Technology Bug Bites Health Care Worker 

Brenda Rausch earned a degree in Practical Nursing in 1994 and was working in the health care field when she got bitten by a bug. 

This bug didn’t cause her any harm. It was the bug of discovery, the desire to learn something new.

“After my father died in 2000 I received my first computer. I started learning the basics and decided this is really what I liked and wanted to learn more,” she said.

She will graduate this May with an associate of applied business degree in computer information systems – web development. She’ll also receive a certificate of proficiency in information systems support. 

Rausch isn’t done there however. She is continuing on and plans to earn additional associate’s degrees in networking communications technology and software development. She expects to complete those degrees next spring.

The Westlake resident hopes her education will land her a job in the exploding Web development field – possibly as a consultant. “The classes at LCCC are geared toward the real world, so I think I am well prepared,” she said.

She credits her preparation to the many great instructors she had at LCCC, including Dave Thomas, Don Huffman, Mike Zellers, John Gresh and Paul Norrod. “These teachers went beyond their scope of teaching,” Rausch said. “They were always there to help and gave encouragement or tips that helped improve what you were doing.” 

That support was important because Rausch, like many LCCC students, worked full time (in a nursing home) while going to school part-time. She started her information technology degrees at LCCC in 2003. “I took about 6-8 credits a semester. It would have been easier if I didn’t have to work, but life is not about easy,” she said. 

But thanks to LCCC’s flexible schedule, including online classes, she was able to mesh her work and school schedule “99.9% of the time.”

Going to school and working are not easy she reiterated, but worth it if you’re working toward a goal. “Start out with some easier classes and see how you do. If you start having trouble don’t give in. Use all the resources available at the college like your teachers and free tutoring,” Rausch said.

Now that’s a good prescription for success for any student.