Friday's Internet Edition, July 25, 2008.
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“Sandra did not make a secret of how appreciative she was of all the instructors at DCCC,” said Myra Thompson, DCCC’s director of community relations. “She’s a top-notch student and has served as an Ambassador for us. She’s just been a walking advertisement for the college.”
While flattered, Ragin felt a little uneasy after being approached by DCCC staff members to participate in the video.
“I was honored to be asked, but I was also very nervous because I don’t consider myself to be a good public speaker,” Ragin said. “I can talk my head off in an intimate group, but I was nervous about my words being broadcast.”
Still the brass at DCCC knew they had made a good choice to include Ragin in their promotional video. Her story before she began pursuing the degree she has just earned is quite inspirational. Born in Pinewood, S.C., Sandra moved to Thomasville when she was a junior in high school. She graduated from Thomasville High School in 1988.
I started at DCCC in 1989, but then I fell in love Kenneth Ragin,” Sandra Ragin said.
After marrying her beau, Sandra Ragin moved with him to Norfolk, where he was stationed in the Navy. They had a son Quentin and later twins, daughter Kenae and another son Kendrick. After moving back to Thomasville, Sandra Ragin went to work for Component Concepts and then the U.S. Post Office. After five years with the Post Office, she had to give up her job due to rheumatoid arthritis.
The severe arthritis caused her to undergo two complete knee replacement operations and a partial shoulder replacement. After these operations, however, Ragin started to feel better. Finally, she asked her doctor if he though she could go back to school. He replied, “That’s a good idea.”
Ragin decided to pursue that good idea and — after 15 years — re-enrolled at DCCC.
“My studies here haven’t been easy, but my instructors explained the material so well that I got a handle on it,” Ragin said. “When I realized I could make it as a student here, it gave me a boost of confidence.”
That confidence was rewarded Wednesday when she received her degree at DCCC. Meanwhile, Ragin began her course work in nuclear medicine technology at Forsyth Technical Community College. She is in line to earn that degree this time next year.
“I would like to take an online course in health management services at East Carolina University,” Ragin said “Eventually, I would like to get my masters.”
Ragin said she would like to be a nuclear medical technologist for five years and then go into management. One day she hopes to manage a nuclear energy department.
Three of the instructors at DCCC Ragin credited with providing her with a quality education are Susan Scarboro in English, Dorie Stanfield in math and Susan Owens in psychology. Ragin also is quite appreciative of her family for standing by her during her time at DCCC.
“Without my husband’s love, encouraging words and financial backing, it would have been so much harder to go to school,” she said of Kenneth Ragin. “I really appreciate how he sacrificed his time.”
Sandra Ragin also expressed appreciation to her mother, Ann Durant, for taking care of the children while she was in class. Furthermore, Sandra appreciated the encouragement she has received from her sister, Quanda Wilson, who just graduated, herself, from High Point University. Other members of her family include her cousin’s son, Quan Worley, who is graduating from Thomasville High and headed to Western Carolina University.”
Her family members return the appreciation.
“It’s encouraging to see my mother do so well after all she’s been through,” said Kendrick Ragin, who is now in the seventh grade at Thomasville Middle School. “It’s an inspiration for my own life.”
Sandra appreciates the inspiration the family members pass along to each other.
“It’s awesome the way my family members encourage each other,” she said.
Staff Writer Kevin Reid can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 230, or at reid@tvilletimes.com.