CFCC medical lab tech student turns her curiosity into a career choice
From a young age, Kamryn Lee knew she wanted to work in forensics. Her interest led her to consider a career in forensic pathology. Initially, she was open to the amount of time and money she would need to invest in that career pursuit. However, after sampling the four-year university route, Kamryn realized the pace was not fast enough for her inquisitive mind. Then she heard about CFCC’s new Medical Laboratory Technology program.
CFCC’s program is the perfect fit for Kamryn. The quick entry into hands-on learning was immediately attractive to Kamryn. In just her first semester, she has already had the opportunity to use medical lab equipment and cultivate various organic materials. Plus, she can take her real-world training straight to the workforce or consider continuing her education at a 4-year university.
In between labs, Kamryn chatted with us about her experience at CFCC so far.
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO ENROLL AT CFCC? WHY DID IT MAKE SENSE FOR YOU?
I decided to enroll at CFCC because I realized that the four-year university I was at was not for me. I was having a hard time being motivated to go to my classes because they were just my general education credits, and I really wasn’t interested in anything I was doing.
It would have taken me two years to get to the classes I take for my major, which at that time was biology. I realized that I didn’t want to wait that long to dive into what I was really there to learn.
I found the Medical Laboratory Technology program at Cape Fear, read about it, and saw that it was a two-year degree and it just clicked: that’s what I need! Now I get up every morning excited to go to class because I’m interested and captivated by the subjects we are studying, and I love being in the lab doing hands-on assignments.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM ORIGINALLY?
I am originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AT CFCC?
This semester is my first semester at CFCC and I have loved it since day one. I am working on my Associate in Applied Science for Medical Laboratory Technology. My program is definitely my favorite part of the experience, but I also love how the campus is laid out downtown. It’s such a pretty area and within walking distance of many restaurants and shops. If we ever have a large break between classes, my friends and I will walk to get food downtown (our favorite is Mellow Mushroom). CFCC also has so many resources for students like tutoring, counseling, and student success. At CFCC, I know that I can get help for whatever I need to help me succeed.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER GRADUATION?
After graduation, I am planning on finding a job as a medical laboratory technician, ideally at a local hospital. While working, I want to continue my education to be a pathologist assistant. Working as an MLT in the meantime will give me the money I need to fund my further education.
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO PURSUE THAT CAREER PATH?
That’s actually a pretty wild story. Originally, I wanted to be a forensic pathologist and do autopsies on victims of violent crimes. That fascination stemmed from an event in my childhood. When I was seven, I was swimming at Lake Norman with my family and I found the body of a man who had drowned a few hours prior. In my child’s mind, I was more curious than afraid, because I had never seen death in this context. I had seen people die in movies and the nice and made-up bodies at funerals, but I had never seen death in such a raw, natural sense.
As I got older, I realized that to be a forensic pathologist, I would need a whole lot of school which would cost a whole lot of money that I don’t have. So, I decided to start small and work my way up to see if I found something along the way that was a little different but I still liked.
Medical Laboratory Technology has given me a way to explore that fascination of the human body and how it works, while also not leaving me in a heaping pile of student loan debt. I may continue my education after, but I will have a degree and a foundation that will help me the whole way.
HOW HAS CFCC HELPED PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR NEXT STEP?
CFCC has given me amazing instructors, incredible resources, and a positive environment to guide me into a career as a medical laboratory technician. I am confident that when I graduate I will be prepared to take on anything thrown at me
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE CONSIDERING STUDYING AT CFCC?
I would tell them to come on and do it! I and so many others love CFCC and it’s a great place for diversity and even for people who aren’t super sure about college. My classes at CFCC don’t even feel like school, it feels like every day that I go in, I’m actually on the job because of the hands-on lab experiences and the fact that our instructors treat us like fellow healthcare professionals. Of course, they know we are learning, but the environment helps me grow my professionalism and teaches me how to work with others in a laboratory work environment. CFCC really prepares you for the world of work and does an amazing job.
