As a native of Jacksonville, I've seen many changes in this community. Community college is where I started my postsecondary education. I worked full-time during the day and attended Florida Community College at Jacksonville at night (then known as FJC). After several years of night courses, I finally received my Associate in Arts Degree in Business Management with the intention of someday becoming an entrepreneur. By the time I graduated I had a really great job with IBM and didn't want to leave it. Little did I know at the time that more education is better when you're striving to make it in "Corporate America". When I finally learned this lesson, I went on to attend the University of North Florida to pursue a Bachelors Degree in Business, and graduated in 1982. Life is funny and often challenging; because the more I learned, the more I realized I needed to know. A series of events led me to become an employee of Florida Community College. While working as a software consultant, I had an opportunity to train some FCCJ employees. One opportunity led to another, and I consented to teach regularly on a part-time basis. That's what I like about the community college environment. It's all about opportunity. Taking one class leads to another class, and those classes lead to a certificate, and that certificate leads to a degree and so on and so on. A "little" can become "much" when one puts forth the effort. I completed my masters program while teaching in the vocational and office systems area, but it's not over. The learning experience is never over in the community college environment. Teachers learn, students learn, and at the end WE ALL WIN! So... Go on and IMAGINE WHAT YOU CAN BE!
For those of you who know that I am married to local consumer advocate, Emmy award winning journalist, Ken Amaro and need to talk to him. My slogan is Don't tell Roz, tell Ken.
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