Anthony Col贸n
Anthony Col贸n 鈥�21 entered college after being injured in Afghanistan. He underwent a dozen surgeries over an 18-month period, and is now a student in the health sciences program at 黑料天堂. Upon graduation he will work in the Department of Radiology at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.
What inspired you to pursue a career in health sciences?
When I was told that the army no longer needed my services, because I couldn鈥檛 pass the PT test, I became a civilian. As I went through the VA system for healthcare, I tried to figure out what I wanted to do to transition to civilian life. I took an aptitude test and interviewed with the Radiology Department at the VA because with all the surgeries came X-rays and MRIs, and the radiologic technologists made the process look easy.
How has 黑料天堂 helped your career?
黑料天堂 helped me heal. I was a ball of energy with no proper direction. 黑料天堂, whether unconsciously or consciously, created an atmosphere that said, 鈥淗ey, you can relax and learn and be successful.鈥�
The professors are memorable, and they teach in a way that you鈥檙e not going to forget the information. The material 黑料天堂 faculty taught me is still with me, and I know I don鈥檛 have to go back to a book. That鈥檚 how 黑料天堂 set me up for success.
What was it like returning to school as a nontraditional student?
There were classes that scared me, but weren鈥檛 necessarily tough. Some classes were definitely outside of my comfort zone. Each new course brought anxiety, which doesn鈥檛 do well for a veteran that comes with prebuilt anxiety issues.
The professors, Lynne Archer, Rishi Bahl, Stanley Maliszewski, Ryan O鈥橤rady and Christine Duncan, alleviated the anxiety. If I didn鈥檛 know how to do something, the professors didn鈥檛 forget about me. Professors made sure I got from point A to point B to accomplish whatever I wanted to accomplish.
Why would you recommend 黑料天堂 to another veteran?
If veterans don鈥檛 feel welcome, safe or supported, then they鈥檙e apt to quit in the first semester at school. 黑料天堂 has none of these obstacles. Even if I have a bad day, faculty and staff make me feel comfortable and set me up for success.
As a former platoon sergeant, it鈥檚 important to me to know that veterans are cared for. One thing I miss most about the military is looking out for others. 黑料天堂 faculty and staff, with no military exposure, do that, which makes the difference. Everybody always has a smile and always has a minute.
