Therese Williams is considering going back to school to earn a certification in Medical Assisting. She attended SCI but was told she was only a medical biller, not a coder as she thought. To help decide which school to attend, she asks herself important questions about her goals and preferences. She wants to earn a credential, have more career opportunities and credibility in her field. She is mentally and emotionally ready for a new challenge. Now in school, she sees the importance of a college education for greater job opportunities compared to past generations. A college education stimulates growth through interacting with experts and exploring new ideas. It also provides valuable resources and connections for her job search and future career promotions.

1. 08/20/2012
Therese Williams
Learning Framework
Homework
I had just graduated from SCI supposedly as a medical biller and coder specialist, but two weeks
before I graduated I was told by my new instructor that I was not a coder I was just a biller. I
was very upset, and I said to myself that I wasted my time at SCI. Therefore what was Important
to me before I decided to attended Virginia College, was going back to school so that I can get
my certification in Medical Assistant. What I did to help me make my decision, I had to ask
myself these questions:
1. Why do I want to go back to school? The reason I told myself is that I want to earn a
Certification in Medical Assistant this is as important as the school and program I choose. I
had to consider these factors and put them in order of importance.
• To learn more
• To add a credential to my résumé
• To have a better chance of being promoted
• To have more credibility in my chosen field
• To change careers
• To increase my earning potential
• Because I need to feel better about myself
• Because I don't know what else to do
2. Why do I want to do this now? Like I saidI want to earn a Certification in Medical
Assistant, and timing was very important. Before I invest in my time—and the application
fees—I wanted to be sure that I am ready to go. I also had to consider these factors and put
them in order of importance.
• Because I am mentally and emotionally ready for a new challenge
• Because I am not getting any younger
• Because I have the time now to commit and it may be a limited
window
3. What type of learning and student experience am I seeking? Do I want an environment
where faculty and students have an interactive learning approach? Are I am I more interested
in a lecture style? Do you want to have a lot of social interaction with fellow students outside
the classroom? Are you going to focus primarily on your coursework?
Do I have a preference of studying at a more research-oriented institution? Do I prefer a
public or private university? I had to ask myself these questions because I know that I am
going to spend a lot of time at the school that I choose, therefore I had to take the time to
consider the campus environment and culture to make sure it was the right fit for me.
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2. Now that I am in school what is important to me is there are more jobs opportunities for me. As
opposed to generations of the past, high school graduates today are unable to obtain the number
of high-paying jobs that were once available. The U.S. has been transformed from a
manufacturing-based economy to an economy based on knowledge, and the importance of a
college education today can be compared to that of a high school education forty years ago. It
serves as the gateway to better options and more opportunity.
There are additional reasons as to why it is important for me to go to college. When students
experience a postsecondary education, they have the opportunity to read books and listen to the
lectures of top experts in their fields. This stimulation encourages students to think, ask
questions, and explore new ideas, which allows for additional growth and development and
provides college graduates with an edge in the job market over those who have not experienced a
higher education.
The importance of a college education is also accentuated because of the opportunity to gain
valuable resources during my tenure. The more connections which are collected during my
college career, the more options I will have when I begin my job search. Once I have ended my
job search and have started my career, however, the importance of a college education has not
been exhausted. Having a college degree often provides for greater promotion opportunity.
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