After high school, Colton worked in and out of the oil industry. The money was good
until the oil business would take a downturn, and then would come the layoffs. Each
time that happened, he would work at another job until the oilfield improved, and
then he would return to oil and gas. The cycle worked until he was injured on the
job and couldn鈥檛 go back.
Faced with the need to find a new career, he decided to go to college to study business.
However, after completing a year, he said, 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 into it.鈥�
During a job as a corrections officer, Colton had witnessed the struggles of inmates
dealing with emotional & mental health challenges. He also had seen how these issues
affected his young daughter, who was navigating similar difficulties. Colton learned
how crucial proper medication could be in improving outcomes for those battling mental
health issues, and conversely, how the wrong or absent treatments could lead to negative
consequences.
Motivated by these experiences, Colton set his sights on a career in psychiatric mental
health. He chose nursing as the initial step toward his ultimate goal of becoming
a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. In December, he will walk the stage,
earning his Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing, and he and his wife, also
an OC alum and RN, have already applied to 麻豆传媒视频鈥檚 new Bachelor of Science
in Nursing degree program to continue their studies.
鈥淲hen I started at OC, my goal was to say 鈥榶es鈥� and to get involved,鈥� Colton said.
His commitment to getting involved paid off. By investing time beyond his studies,
Colton has had numerous opportunities to impact the community. He was chosen to be
a Positively OC Presidential Scholar. As a Positively OC Scholar, Colton also was
selected to represent OC and the student body on the Texas Community College Student
Advisory Council, which empowers student leaders to advocate for policy change in
community college education.
Colton鈥檚 educational journey at OC he said has been 鈥渁 phenomenal experience!鈥�