Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) Scholars have a deep, long lasting passion for the medical field, even if sometimes it’s realized a bit later in life. Maranda Maynard’s family consists of a long line of medical professionals, and she says she always kind of knew she would end up in that field as well. Her grandmother retired from ARH in 1990 where she worked as a surgical technician.
“I think [interest in the medical field] runs in the family because my grandmother was a surgical technician for years,” Maranda says. “My mother is a circulating registered nurse in the OR and so I think it was almost inevitable. I shied away from it to try to do my own thing, but I didn’t like the corporate cubicle world.”
Before entering nursing school, Maranda earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. She worked for Community Trust Bank in the internal audit department for a little over a year before deciding to take a different path.
“I was 17 when I graduated high school and it’s hard to decide what you wanna do for the rest of your life,” Maranda says. “That’s when I was like, well what else am I going to do? I love math because no matter what country you’re in or language you speak math is math, it’s always going to come out the same. So I was like, ‘I like math so I’ll do accounting because I’m good with numbers,’ I didn’t job shadow first…I guess I just wanted to take the easier path instead of thinking about what I really wanted to do long term.”
Maranda will graduate with her Associate’s Degree in nursing in May of 2019 and she plans on attending the University of Pikeville to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Eventually she plans to earn her CRNA license and become a Nurse Anesthetist.
Maranda was one of the 11 finalists chosen among 72 ARH Scholars applicants. As an ARH Scholar, she will receive a financial reward of $5,000 toward tuition and living expenses while pursuing her nursing degree.
“I was absolutely elated [when I heard I was an ARH Scholar]!” Maranda says. “That is a huge weight off my shoulders, and a huge burden lifted.”
ARH is proud to support further education in the ARH communities and offer an opportunity these students may not otherwise receive.
“The competition was very intense,” explained Christopher Johnson, System Director of Employee and Labor Relations at ARH. “We are pleased to offer these awards in an effort to encourage individuals to pursue higher education.”
Maranda is excited to focus on making a difference in her community through a career she is truly passionate about.
“It’s been a long road to get here, but I think I’m finally where I’m supposed to be with nursing,” Maranda says. “When I worked in internal audit, I couldn’t handle sitting in front of the computer for eight hours a day…we didn’t get to work with customers or anything and I remember asking myself every day, ‘what difference am I making in someone’s life and in the world?’ When I decided to do nursing it just kind of checked all of my boxes. I’m up on my feet, I’m hands on, there’s that human interaction, and I’m in the position to make someone’s day better emotionally, physically, spiritually – just holistically.”
Maranda is extremely thankful for the opportunity to be an ARH Scholar and she is excited to finally work in a field where she feels she can make a difference every single day.
“[ARH Scholars has] made a world of difference for me,” Maranda says. “My stress level has been lessened significantly just knowing that I have a little bit of help for this final year of school. It takes my worry away from how I’m going to afford this so I can just focus on my studies and being the best student I can be.”
Story Published in Appalachian News-Express
