Tawni Thomas

Name: Tawni Thomas
Major: Human Service Associate
Class: 2022

• Why did you choose your major/career path?
  

  I am naturally drawn to stories of those who’ve overcome life challenges, and I'm inspired by the strength and resilience of humanity. I am passionate about being supportive and a help to others so that they an continue to thrive and persevere. I found a purpose for this passion within the Human Service field.

• Why did you choose to start your college degree at Allegany College of Maryland? 
  The Human Service program ACM offers is the most thorough in the area. It has covered so many skills that I find myself using in my career. It has more than prepared me for work in the field and continuing my education at a Bachelor's level.
• How was your experience as an ACM student? Tell us about our experience in the Human Service Associate program. 
  I grew significantly as a person while at ACM and I attribute much of that to the supportive staff at the college in addition to the structure of the HS Program. The program teaches you about self-awareness and challenges you to learn about your strengths and areas to grow. It’s more than just learning career readiness. You learn about yourself, and your values, and develop into the best version of yourself.
• Why would you recommend Allegany College of Maryland to future students?
  ACM’s smaller classrooms and campus provide a sense of community, and even family, because you have the opportunity to get to know everyone better. The support that is available is unmatched compared to larger campuses. The opportunity to get actual field experience with internships has also been extremely beneficial in preparing me for the work I’m now doing in the field. I also find that I am beyond prepared for several of my Bachelor level courses.
• Why would you recommend your major/career to others?
  Human Services is about community and connection. At its foundation, it simply requires you to show up with love and compassion for one another. Many of the skills you need to be successful are innate. Once you tap into those skills, all the other professional skills you learn can fall into place. The Human Service career path also allows for a wide range of career opportunities and there is a great need in our communities for human service workers. The coursework at ACM ensures you are work-ready after graduation.
• How did the staff and faculty at ACM help you on your path to reaching your dream?
  The staff at ACM have always gone above and beyond to be as helpful as they can. If they didn’t have an answer, they would seek the resources to get it. They offer their time and compassion to help you as a student with whatever challenges you’re facing.

• What was the most important thing you learned from ACM that prepared you for working in the human service field?
  I learned the importance of collaboration and networking. Community partnerships will help you when finding resources for clients and trying to help meet the needs of your community.
• How did ACM prepare you to continue your education/transfer at a 4-year college/university (may not apply)?
  ACM taught me professional skills that I can use in the field, but that I’ve also found helpful when communicating with professors and staff at the university. The depth of learning that takes place in the Human Service program beyond prepared me for the course work at my Bachelor's level. I also learned some foundational skills for studying, time management, planning, and writing various types of papers.
• What are some challenges you encountered as a college student?
  Some of the challenges I have encountered are time management, especially as a mother and non-traditional student. I reached out to my support systems (professors, classmates, and specifically my TRIO advisor) for support and guidance. Together, we came up with solutions to explore. I was able to learn better skills to organize my tasks and complete them ahead of time.
• What advice would you give future college students? What advice would you give to those considering the field of human services?
  Reach out to your support systems and mentors. They are compassionate and willing to listen. They can help you see new perspectives that will guide you to solutions for all the challenges you’re facing. To those considering human services, come as you are and trust the process. Don’t be afraid to be yourself, but also explore learning more about who you are and who you intend to become. Your classmates will become like family, embrace this community. And lastly, do all things with compassion and love as you embark on this journey of working with people because sometimes that’s all it takes to make a difference.
• What are your plans for the future?
  My future plans are to complete my Undergraduate education at Frostburg State University in Psychology and continue on to complete my MSW. I am currently working as an addictions counselor and wish to continue working in this field.
• Is there anything else you would like to share with me?
  I’d previously attended FSU, PSC, and WVU when I first started my college journey after high school. Although there were amazing and supportive instructors there, the amount of encouragement, support, and sense of community I found at ACM since returning as a non-traditional student was unmatched compared to each of those colleges. I am so glad I chose to attend ACM. Not only did I receive the thorough education that I desired from the Human Service program, but I also received more support than I ever imagined I’d have from the amazing and compassionate staff/faculty.