Maverick Voices

Maverick Voices: Tatiana’s Journey to Biomedical Engineering

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 04:03:00 GMT

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's Journey: From Maryland to MTC

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 04:11:00 GMT

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 offers. She balances her student life with an overnight job at Amazon, managing a schedule that accommodates her classes and family responsibilities. Her story reflects the challenges and rewards of pursuing higher education later in life.

Maverick Voices: Eight Years Later: Finding Purpose in Engineering

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 04:00:01 GMT

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 goals, and a deep desire to learn. We dive into the mental hurdles of studying in math heavy fields like engineering, the power of seeing others succeed, and the support he found through MTC’s tutoring programs.

Maverick Voices: Viewing the World in a Unique Lens

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 05:00:00 GMT

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.

From Art to Architecture: Israel's Unconventional Journey

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 05:00:00 GMT

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 New York to South Carolina. She discusses her family's reaction to her career changes and highlights the intellectual aspects of construction that captivated her interest, shedding light on the complexities and diverse career opportunities in the field.

Maverick Voices: Fostering Hope

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 05:00:07 GMT

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 the welcoming and helpful environment at MTC has helped her do her best and clearly evaluate her path in life.

Maverick Voices: A Motivating Environment Makes All the Difference

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 05:00:00 GMT

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 workforce, James decided it was time to go back. His college of choice? Midlands Tech. From there, James explains how the supportive professors and PTK officers made him feel like he was ready to give college his all. Through these experiences, James remarks that his ultimate goal is to make a difference for future students at Midlands Tech and to leave the college better than he found it.

Maverick Voices: Changing the Narrative

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 04:00:03 GMT

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 her with the skills to thrive under pressure. While here, she reflects on how her previous experiences motivated her to be more active on campus and change both her own, and her fellow students', personal narratives about smaller colleges. This is an episode you do not want to miss!

Maverick Voices: You Can Either Give Up, or Give it All You've Got

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 04:00:00 GMT

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. Mary also details her struggles with disability and limited time, and shares how she copes with adjusting your dreams to fit with your new reality.

Maverick Voices: If you hungry, we starving

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 13:07:53 GMT

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 withdrawing from classes, balancing work and school, and procrastination, but she emphasizes the role that persistence and dedication have played in her success.

Maverick Voices: The Winds of Life

Thu, 30 May 2024 04:00:00 GMT

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 dream job as a zookeeper. She discusses her struggles with anxiety and overcoming the fear of failure, and she explains how her life experiences help her encourage students to push through and learn from their own challenges. Rachel and Patrick highlight the importance of work-life balance and strategies to develop this work-life balance, which allows Rachel to be fully present, available, and engaged for the students at MTC as she helps them choose their academic and career paths.

Maverick Voices: Life Can Be Hard

Tue, 14 May 2024 04:01:00 GMT

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 market. Patrick and Jasmine discuss the differences between a two-year and four-year school experience and the support that Midlands Tech provides to students of all ages, experiences, and college readiness. Jasmine gives advice and provides inspiration for succeeding at MTC amidst the expected and unexpected challenges of college and life.

Maverick Voices: Online isn't so bad

Tue, 07 May 2024 04:01:00 GMT

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 Tech, including its affordability, the unexpected opportunities for involvement, and the ability to get anywhere from here.

Maverick Voices: School/Life Balance

Tue, 07 May 2024 04:00:00 GMT

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 shares the programs, clubs, resources, and professors at MTC that have helped her feel supported and included within the MTC community.

Maverick Voices Podcast: Connection and Energy

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 01:18:09 GMT

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 of community engagement and the power of stepping beyond one's comfort zone. They eloquently emphasize the profound impact of forging genuine connections with peers and professors, illustrating how such interactions foster not only academic growth but also personal development.