Howard Community College

T HE M ANY FAC E S O F S T U DE N T S U C C E S S <<< Charlie Kim GOAL AT HCC: Associate's degree in business administration LONG-TERM GOAL: Government and defense contractor instructor QUOTE: "I'd advise anyone who is thinking about going to school to go ahead and give it a try – you have nothing to lose and everything to gain." BUILDING ON PAST ACHIEVEMENTS By 2010, Charlie Kim's life experience was very different from responsibility, making effective presentations, communicating in that of many college freshmen. He was a music prodigy, a past writing, managing your time – these are all a very necessary part university history major, an enlistee in the Army who served three of being successful in a work environment," he says. years in Iraq, and an instructor in the U.S. Army Reserves. "I never completed college," he says. "I knew I should go Despite tackling a full course load while working part-time, Charlie has maintained a 3.9 grade point average. He's enjoyed back to school so I could establish myself in a good career, but I being part of the Frederick K. Schoenbrodt Honors Program, a needed time to reacclimate to the education environment, which learning community for high-achieving students that helps them is so different from the Army." prepare for more advanced study. The Howard County resident decided to try HCC. The "Students like Charlie add so much to the classroom, convenient location, small class sizes, and personal advising because they bring a different world perspective," says appealed to him. He went to the office of veterans affairs, where Mary Beth Furst, assistant professor of business. "We try to Olayta Rigsby, assistant registrar, helped arrange for veterans expose students to real world situations and the breadth of benefits to pay for tuition. "Everything was laid out for me, and opportunities that are available to prepare them to be effective it's been smooth sailing ever since," says Charlie. in the workforce." Choosing the business program made a lot of sense to the Music continues to be one of Charlie's great pleasures. If returning student. "I wasn't entirely sure of what I wanted to you take a walk across the HCC quad, you might hear him do when I graduated, and I think the business administration and another student jamming outside the Horowitz Visual and program touches on a lot of different areas," he says. Performing Arts Center. Charlie has played piano since the early From the moment he started taking business classes, Charlie says "I've been blown away by the quality of the teaching. The professors' broad experiences, expertise, and willingness to provide personal help have proved invaluable." He also appreciates the practical skills he's learned in his classes. "Working well in a group situation, delegating 8 Pathways | Howard Community College Spring 2012 age of three, and then saxophone, but his current instrument of choice is the guitar. Charlie has yet to decide whether he will continue his college studies after graduating from HCC, or directly enter the workforce. What he has decided is that his associate's degree from HCC will be another significant milestone on his pathway to success.

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