Maverick Voices

Tatiana, a biomedical engineering student from Columbia, SC, shares her inspiring journey from cheerleading and college doubts to becoming a mother and returning to school with a new purpose. She opens up about choosing MTC over a faraway university, overcoming the fear of college, and how her son now drives her dream of becoming a doctor in biomedical engineering.

Destiny, a history major at MTC, shares her journey from Maryland to South Carolina, highlighting the cultural differences and adjustments she faced. Originally an art major, she switched to history with aspirations of becoming an attorney. Although new to college, Destiny finds joy in exploring new opportunities and perspectives, appreciating the diversity and events her current institution offer...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Ryan, an electrical engineering student at Midlands Technical College, who shares his unique journey from Brooklyn, New York, to Columbia, South Carolina, and back to college after an eight-year break. Ryan shares how he once struggled with anxiety and a lack of direction during his first attempt at college, but now returns with a renewed mindset, clear ...

In the episode, Patrick sits down with Nick, a computer science student at MTC, to discuss his experiences at school and how he navigates life with Autism and ADHD. Nick's unique perspective helps him look at learning differently and creatively. Additionally, he expresses his excitement about being a part of the MTC community and his involvement in the NSM club.

In this episode of Maverick Voices, host Patrick chats with Israel, a student from the building construction program. Initially starting her academic journey as an art major, Israel later pursued pre-nursing before finally finding her true passion in building construction. As a first-generation Trinidadian American, Israel shares her cultural experiences and the challenges she faced shifting from...

In this episode, Patrick interviews Katie Miller, who is in Midlands Technical College's business program and plans to open up a non-profit that will help children in the foster care system and children with disabilities. She is motivated by her personal experiences as a child in foster care, and wants to be a positive influence for children going through what she went through. Katie explains that...

Patrick speaks with one of MTC's Coca-Cola Scholars, James L, who is a part of the school of Advanced Manufacturing and Skilled Trades program of study, studying Industrial Electrical Maintenance and Building and Construction. James goes over how his first attempts at college were unsuccessful and how he just was not ready for the demands college required. However, after spending some time in the...

In this episode, Patrick interviews Shaw Howell, a business major who seeks to change the overarching narrative surrounding two-year technical colleges. Shaw details her journey from working as a retail manager to deciding to continue her education and attend Midlands technical college. She talks about how her children and her job as a general manager not only motivated her to change, but equipped...

This episode has Patrick interviewing Mary Reason, a student in MTC's school of Healthcare who wants to be a nurse. She shares her early experiences with the medical field and her intense desire to help people. While she started her college journey at Aiken Technical College, she found the welcoming community, the competitive environment, and scholarly reputation of Midlands Tech more appealing. M...

In an episode filled with advice about college skills and success, Patrick talks with Josie, a Mechanical Engineering student at MTC. She explains the unexpected journey that brought her from Brooklyn, New York to South Carolina and describes the process that led to her choosing Midlands Tech as her path to re-entering education. Josie highlights the challenges she had to overcome, such as withdra...

In a first for Maverick Voices, Patrick converses with Rachel Reed, an academic and career advisor working primarily with students from the School of English and Humanities at MTC. Rachel shares the unconventional path that led to her becoming an advisor, including her college experiences majoring in Wildlife Biology at Missouri State University as well as the challenges of moving on from her drea...

In this episode of the Maverick Voices podcast, Patrick Bennett interviews Jasmine, a nursing student at MTC who decided to come back to school after a career in Public Health. Jasmine shares the insights from her personal life and career that encouraged her to attend MTC as a starting point for her Masters in Nursing, including her family’s history with Type 2 Diabetes and a shifting job ma...

This episode, Patrick meets with Emilee, a Biology major who is completing her degree exclusively through online and virtual classes. Emilee gives her advice for time management and staying motivated when completing a degree online. She discusses her choice to attend Midlands Tech instead of a four-year school on her path to becoming a Veterinarian and highlights the benefits of attending Midlands...

The second episode of the Maverick Voices podcast brings a conversation between Patrick Bennett and Noemi, a current MTC Pre-Nursing student who moved from the Philippines to the U.S. three years ago. Noemi describes some of the differences between being a teacher in the Philippines and a student in the U.S. in addition to balancing the challenges of being a student, a wife, and a mother. Noemi sh...

In this episode, Patrick engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Will, a dynamic student enrolled in the esteemed School of Social and Behavioral Science. Will candidly shares his unconventional journey to Midlands Technical College, underscoring the significance of embracing unique paths to educational pursuits. Through their g dialogue, both Will and Patrick underscore the pivotal role...