Remington College | Tampa | Graduate of the Quarter

Tampa - Graduate of the Quarter

Ms. Betty Reed,
Career Services Director

Remington College - Tampa
Nominates
Ms. Erica “Rikki” Seaver As

Graduate of the Quarter

From Left to Right:
Ms. Betty Reed, Director of Career Services
Ms. Rikki Seaver, Graduate of the Quarter
Ms. Carolyn Daniels, Career Service Assistant
Ms. Jackie Blasher, Career Service Assistant

If there was ever a student that deserves the opportunity to become the Student of the Quarter it is Erica “Rikki” Seaver. Rikki traveled 50 plus miles each way to school and back each day, oftentimes in a car that I would not trust to travel within the city limits. Rikki also had a car accident in her travel from Brooksville where she lives and came to work the same day of the accident.

While working here as a work-study student Rikki updated all the bulletin boards in the school each quarter and did a wonderful job on a brochure for the Career Services Department. She was also in charge of locating employers for the "On The Job Training Program" of which she increased the number of employers from approximately 15 to 40. Rikki also does a weekly general employment listing for the early quarter students. We will certainly miss her when she graduates.

PS. she is on schedule to go to work with VF Imagewear soon. The following is Rikki’s story in her words.

June 26, 2003
Ladies and Gentlemen:

Going to school for Graphic Design was something that I had always wanted to do. I took classes in Graphic Design and Photography every year from 8^th through 12^th grades. After high school, something always seemed to keep me from enrolling in a Graphic Design School.

In March of 2000, my life was changed forever. I started to have incredible pain in my back, neck, and shoulders. I couldn’t sleep, concentrate, or really function. The pain was so severe, that there were times I couldn’t get out of bed or that I had to use a wheelchair. The doctor’s diagnosis was grim, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and, he explained, that I could not live as I had been. My fast-paced, high stress job would have to go. So would doing any strenuous activities (like sports or even mowing the lawn).

That fall, my condition forced me to quit a job with the County that I loved.

I enrolled in Tampa Technical Institute’s Digital Graphic Arts program and began classes in January 2001. I loved the program, and, with the reduction in stress along with my doctor’s care, I felt immensely better.

However, right after classes began, my best friend (also my cousin) was murdered at 22 years old. I was devastated and unable to cope. The next month, my marriage fell apart. I was left with no job, no money, and no hope. It was a very dark time in my life.

But school was my salvation. Every day I made the two hour round-trip drive to Tampa. Within a couple of weeks, I met Ms. Betty Reed and the amazing staff of the Career Services Department. I began to work as a Work study in the department and I still do.

Now, graduation is upon me, and I am excited about my life. I am coping with the loss of my friend, I am engaged (although still a bit gun shy about marriage), and I am volunteering for Hernando County Government Broadcasting as a Graphic Designer.

All the work and all the hardship has led to this…right here and right now. I am excited and terrified at the same time. I am not only on the road to achieving my life-long dream of being a graphic designer but I have also learned an amazing lesson…If I can overcome all that I have in the past two years, I can overcome anything. Look out world!

Erica “Rikki” Seaver

Susan Rumans
Corporate Director of Career Services
Remington Administrative Services, Inc.
501.235.2221