Upon first glance, Alexis Cribb seems like many new college students. She’s sweet and smiles a lot. She’s courteous and has the proverbial stars in her eyes about her future. After talking with her at length though, you know Alexis is different. She’s the kind of student most of us probably wish we could have been. She’s driven and focused. She knows exactly what she wants to do when she graduates from college and she knows exactly the path she’s taking to get there. That path is technical education.

Alexis was first introduced to Ogeechee Technical College when she was in high school. Enrolled in Dual Enrollment classes at OTC and Georgia Southern University, the teenager took various core classes as well as a mechatronics class. A chance meeting with someone related to her mom’s job made her consider the field of echocardiography. She met a second person who was also related to echo. This time it was Capre Mitchell, Echocardiography instructor at Ogeechee Technical College. Alexis said, “I met two people from the same field and I just felt like it had to be a sign.”  About Cribb, Mitchell said, “Alexis is a very bright, inquisitive student who I expect to go far in this field. “ Cribb researched the competitive admissions program and decided echocardiography was where she wanted to be. 

Alexis says, “We live in a society that places high value on four-year degrees, and some people think if we’re not choosing a university, it’s a waste of talent. I don’t find that to be true at all. College definitely isn’t one-size-fits-all.” Alexis, who was Valedictorian of her graduating class at Statesboro High School, says technical college may not be something most people in her position might consider, instead opting for a traditional university experience. Yet for Alexis, technical college was her first choice. She said, “I love school and I love challenges. I would have done well at a traditional university but I was looking for a viable, in-demand career. The other options I considered were not a good fit for me.” Alexis says she likes the financial benefit a degree from a Technical College System of Georgia school will give her. She finds comfort in knowing she won’t start her career with debt and she knows she won’t struggle to find a job in her field. At just 19 years old, she knows and understands the importance of a highly-skilled, trained workforce, and the impact the workforce has on communities. She also knows the vital importance of classroom learning, taught by instructors with real world experience, coupled with hands-on training in labs and at clinical sites.

Alexis says she is excited for a career in the medical field that will allow her to submerge herself in different cultures and share her expertise on mission trips through her church.  She wants to be able to minister to others spiritually, as well as physically, in a healthcare setting.  “We just started clinical rotations,” Alexis said, smiling. “It’s all starting to make sense. Everything is starting to make sense. I can’t wait to be able to make someone feel at ease and make them smile. I’m excited to make my future patients feel heard.” It’s very likely she will do exactly that!