Alumna Jessica Gross Says She Felt Instant Connection to TCTC Instructors
Press Release
Date: October 30, 2024
Contact: lgarrett@tctc.edu
By Lisa Garrett
Alumna Jessica Gross Says She Felt Instant Connection to TCTC Instructors
PENDLETON --- Jessica Gross didn’t take the traditional route to earning a four-year degree in education. Life’s unexpected twists and turns dictated that she take a few short and extended breaks in her educational journey before receiving her Early Care and Education (ECE) degree from TCTC in 2022. “I realized that at TCTC, you don’t have to follow a road map to get to your destination. You don’t have to fit into a traditional model of what a college student looks like to come here. You can be you and fit in. From day one I felt a sense of belonging and felt welcomed. I wasn’t placed in a box. At TCTC I found out who I was.”
In May, Gross graduated from North Greenville University (NGU) with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. She is the second TCTC graduate to participate in this new partnership that enables TCTC students to transfer to NGU’s Educational Studies online bachelor’s degree program.
What makes this partnership unique is that all course credits associated with Tri-County’s Associate of Applied Science in Early Care and Education degree program transfer to NGU’s Early Childhood Education bachelor’s degree program. Plus, Tri-County students who transfer to NGU’s online bachelor’s degree program are eligible for a 10% discount on tuition. The flexibility associated with online courses is particularly valuable to Tri-County students who are often balancing school with work and family obligations.
Gross said her life looks entirely different than what she envisioned when she graduated from Walhalla High School in 2014. The honor student received a scholarship to Winthrop University but after a semester she decided to rethink her choices which included her major.
“I discovered I wanted to get away from the stereotypical college experience and I wanted to be an individual. I got that at TCTC,” said Gross, who resides in Seneca.
“I dreamed about being a teacher, and Meredith (Dickens, TCTC public services department head and her former ECE instructor/advisor) opened my eyes to the fact that it was achievable. I came in with a baby on the way so family was a priority and she understood that I had to maintain a home and school balance,” said Gross.
“As a freshman transfer student, I wondered if community college students were as driven. I found out they were here because they wanted to be. It’s not a mandatory next step. It’s a choice. There are other adults in their 20’s with families and lives. I connected instantly,” she said.
Gross took classes consecutively but one or two a semester because she was a working parent. She and her husband Brian (who also is a TCTC graduate) were remodeling the home they were living in. There were times when she had to take longer breaks because of their child’s illness. (A milk protein allergy that took time to diagnose required her full attention and a short break.) She returned to TCTC in 2017 after the birth of her second son. A health scare with him required another longer hiatus. “I continued taking classes slowly. But thankfully, I had instructors who were rooting for me and friends who were there for me. They understand that life is difficult and everyone’s life is different. Everyone cared.”
In addition to Dickens, one of her inspirations was Jackye Murphy, an ECE instructor who lost her battle with cancer in September 2018. “I looked at them and said that’s who I want to be. They were there to help students achieve their goals. They both taught and practiced meaningful learning. Mrs. Murphy was sick and still showed up. I wanted to model myself after her. She encouraged me to keep showing up and to finish my education,” Gross said.
“The Early Care and Education courses allowed for hands-on experiences, both in the classroom at TCTC and out,” said Gross. “I participated in numerous practicum courses where I was exposed to diverse age ranges (infants-kindergarten). I also had the chance to see various types of educational venues, such as public schools, private, and Montessori. While participating in the practicum courses, I taught lessons that I wrote, created teacher-made-resources, learned how to use common technology resources, and most important, learned from many mentor teachers. TCTC ECE courses brought research-backed practices to life which made learning more impactful,” she said.
“I came to Tri-County unsure of what to expect and left feeling hopeful for my career and prepared beyond what I ever imagined,” said Gross, who was named the ECE outstanding student that year.
After graduating from TCTC she took a year of general education classes at Clemson University and learned about the NGU program when talking with Dickens about next steps. All of her TCTC and Clemson credits were accepted.
Gross wasn’t saddled with any student debt thanks to federal grants and the LIFE scholarship. “I graduated from TCTC debt free. During all my years at TCTC, I didn’t pay one dollar for textbooks and tuition,” adding, “I graduated from NGU on May 3 with a super small debt.”
Gross is teaching kindergarten at Blue Ridge Elementary School this year.
“Jessica serves as a beautiful picture of the old saying, ‘Where there is a will, there is a way,’” said Dickens. “Through all of the challenges along her journey, Jessica was determined to pause, not stop. She has felt the calling that is required for an educator, and she was determined to answer that call. Tenacity and perseverance have led her to reaching her goals with greatness, and I am so honored to have been a part of her journey,” said Dickens.
“I believe that Jessica's story is the embodiment of ‘Passionate people transforming lives and building strong communities one student at a time.’ By responding to the opportunities afforded at TCTC, Jessica is now going to use her education to share her passions for high quality early education to transform lives and to build strong communities with her skills and talents as an educator! This is why I love my job at TCTC!”
About Tri-County Technical College
Tri-County Technical College, a public two-year community and technical college serving Anderson, Oconee and Pickens Counties in South Carolina, enrolls more than 9,000 students annually and offers more than 70 major fields of study, including computer technology, business administration, mechatronics, nursing, and university transfer programs. Tri-County boasts the highest student success rate among two-year colleges in the state and ranks in the top one percent nationally for successful student transfers to four-year colleges and universities. To learn more, visit tctc.edu.
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