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ROB MCCLENDON: IN TODAY'S ECONOMY, A GROWING NUMBER OF JOBS REQUIRE BOTH
ACADEMIC AND SKILLS TRAINING.
IT'S A HANDS-ON TYPE OF EDUCATION THAT HELPS PEOPLE ENTER THE WORKFORCE
FASTER AND RISE FURTHER.
NOW THANKS TO OKLAHOMA'S DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM, STUDENTS CAN EARN COLLEGE
LEVEL CREDITS, WHILE ALSO GAINING A SKILL WHILE ENROLLED IN ONE OF
OKLAHOMAS TECHNOLOGY CENTERS.
AND WHILE THAT IS CERTAINLY CONVENIENT FOR STUDENTS, AND A REAL MONEY
SAVER FOR PARENTS, FOR ONE RETURNING OKLAHOMA STUDENT, IT HAS MADE LIFE
ALL THE BETTER.
HERE IS OUR KELA KELLN.
KELA KELLN: SHARON LAIN IS THE FIRST ONE TO TELL YOU HER LIFE HAS NOT ALWAYS
BEEN EASY, SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES OF HER OWN MAKING.
BUT HER STORY'S FINAL CHAPTER IS YET TO BE WRITTEN.
KELA KELLN: SHARON LAIN IS A STUDENT AT METRO TECH IN OKLAHOMA CITY.
BUT GETTING TO WHERE SHE IS TODAY WASN'T AN EASY PATH.
SHARON LAIN: I STARTED DOING DRUGS WHEN I WAS 8 YEARS OLD AND THEN WHEN I
GOT OLDER I GOT INTO *** AND A COUPLE OF OTHER DRUGS.
AND IT BASICALLY RUINED MY LIFE.
KELA: UPON REALIZING SHE HAD A PROBLEM, SHARON SOUGHT HELP AT THE CITY
RESCUE MISSION WHERE SHE NOW LIVES AND WORKS WHILE ALSO TAKING CLASSES AT HER
LOCAL TECHNOLOGY CENTER.
LAIN: I'M HOPING THAT WHEN I GRADUATE HERE I CAN GET HIRED ON AT THE CITY
RESCUE MISSION AS A FULL TIME EMPLOYEE WORKING WITH THE SHELTER WOMEN, BECAUSE
THAT'S WHERE I FEEL LIKE I'M CALLED.
KELA: WITH A CALLING TO GIVE BACK, SHE ALSO HOPES TO CONTINUE HER EDUCATION
AND ATTAIN A COLLEGE DEGREE.
LAIN: METRO TECH IS ALSO TIED IN WITH OSU-OKC, AND SO I'M HOPING TO TAKE
THOSE HOURS AND TRANSFER THEM OVER TO OSU-OKC AND CONTINUE ON TO GET AT
LEAST AN ASSOCIATES MAYBE A BACHELORS BY THE TIME I'M FINISHED.
BUT I THINK WITH THIS CERTIFICATE I CAN GET A PRETTY NICE JOB.
AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
I THINK I'M GOING TO MAKE A GREAT SECRETARY.
KELA: AND SHE'LL BE ABLE TO DO JUST THAT BECAUSE OF THE COMPUTER CLASSES SHE
HAS TAKEN AT METRO TECH.
LAIN: I WORK AT THE SHELTER UNTIL 10 OR SO AT NIGHT, AND THEN I'M BACK
UP AT 5, 5:30 IN THE MORNING TO COME TO SCHOOL YOU KNOW.
AND IT'S JUST YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER BEEN SO BUSY, BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN SO
HAPPY IN MY WHOLE LIFE.
KELA: LAIN SAYS SHE HOPES TO COMPLETE HER CLASSES NEXT YEAR AND START THE
NEXT CHAPTER OF HER LIFE BY WORKING TO GIVE BACK.