{"id":1647,"date":"2021-08-19T08:05:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-19T12:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/science-mathematics-educational-information\/?p=1647"},"modified":"2024-01-30T15:56:57","modified_gmt":"2024-01-30T20:56:57","slug":"student-finds-love-in-the-biotechnology-field","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.spcollege.edu\/science-mathematics-educational-information\/student-finds-love-in-the-biotechnology-field\/","title":{"rendered":"Student Finds Love in the Biotechnology Field"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When Shannon Ballard, 23, was taking prerequisites for a healthcare degree at St. Petersburg College<\/a>, she fell in love. With microbiology. Ballard changed her initial plans for a degree, commitment followed, and she recently finished SPC\u2019s Associate in Science in Biotechnology Laboratory Technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always had a passion for math, and science brings an element of art to it,\u201d Ballard said. \u201cI Love that science is an ongoing conversation \u2013 there\u2019s always room for development, growth, and new, exciting things that could change the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SPC\u2019s Biotechnology Laboratory Technology A.S. Degree <\/a>teaches hands-on skills that ready graduates to become biological technicians, working in laboratories where they maintain instruments, conduct and observe experiments and record results. In fact, Biotechnology is a fast-growing field, especially in Florida, which is home to more than 1,100 biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies who need qualified technicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Biotechnology Laboratory Technology degree called to me because it seemed to focus on important skills used in the workforce,\u201d she said. \u201cIt felt like a more proactive preparation for the workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Shannon<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Ballard said she found the program fascinating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was interested walking in the door,\u201d Ballard said. \u201cBut every day got more interesting. With such new, innovative technology and techniques to study, it was just a new adventure every day.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SPC\u2019s program offers technical skills and key duties, but also soft skills like communication and critical thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This program really equips you with a set of skills that can be applied to many applications, and that helps you feel confident in what you know and your ability to adapt to different work situations,\u201d Ballard said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ballard secured an internship at Focus Laboratories as a junior researcher, where she spent the summer applying all that she\u2019d learned by prepping and running tests in an actual laboratory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was a challenge to apply for internships in the heart of COVID,\u201d Ballard said, “but SPC offers great resources to students. I got help with prepping for interviews and getting my resume looking good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her love for the work shone so brightly during her internship that she was offered a position \u2013 and a promotion \u2013 by the time it was coming to an end. She accepted the offer and is now completing her final prerequisite to pursue a bachelor\u2019s degree in microbiology at the University of Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis program turned out to be such a great calling for me,\u201d Ballard said. \u201cAnd this internship was make or break \u2013 and I made it. Now I\u2019m a part-time student and a microbiologist \u2013 about to get my first promotion.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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