Lindsey has known since she was a kid that she would go into the medical field.
In a family of seven children ranging in age from 13 to 26, Lindsey falls right in the middle. She always knew that if she were going to go to college to pursue her dream, she’d have to figure it out herself. “It’s our responsibility,” she stated practically of herself and her siblings. “So, we all take school really seriously because our education is on our money. If we do well in school, our money is well spent.”
Working with her VSAC Talent Search counselor to narrow her goals
Lindsey worked hard at BFA Fairfax, where she attended high school. She started meeting with Katie Gesser, her VSAC Talent Search counselor, her freshman year. VSAC’s Talent Search program provides guidance to modest income, first-generation students to help them explore opportunities after high school. Katie helped Lindsey narrow her interest in the medical field (at first, she was leaning toward nursing) and find schools that might be a fit for what she was looking for.
Working one-on-one with Katie, Lindsey filled out the forms she needed and gradually started to identify schools with ultrasound programs. “Katie was a big help,” she said. “She would reach out, remind me of deadlines, and help me and my parents with the FAFSA. She was right there with us helping us because this was a totally new process.”
Lindsey also relied on her high school Global Citizenship teacher, Mathew Heald. She took several of his classes, including Criminal Justice, Native American History, and Global Connections, which helped her learn new and creative ways of thinking. “Mr. Heald encouraged me to expand my worldview and travel while I’m young. He gave me so much advice on academics, sports, work, and social life. He definitely had the biggest impact on me in my high school years, and I still continue to turn to him for advice while I’m at college,” she said.
Finding a great fit at Regis College
At first, Lindsey didn’t know about Regis College. “I applied to other schools early and didn’t really know where I wanted to go. I was applying to a mix of nursing programs and sonography, then I got an email from the cross country coach at Regis saying they’d like to talk to me. He said come down, take a tour, so I did.”
It was a small campus with a tight-knit community, exactly what Lindsey was looking for. “It’s close to Boston, but you’re surrounded by trees and it feels really homey,” she added. The more she learned about the ultrasound program there, the more interested she was.
Lindsey’s Regis acceptance was the last to arrive. “I didn’t decide where I was going until right before decision day,” she said. “But once I decided, I went to accepted students’ day and was able to meet the rest of the cross country team. It was such an exciting moment!”
The financial aid package made a difference too. While Regis was not the least expensive option Lindsey was exploring, the program was the best fit for her goals.
Ultrasound resonated
While she’s always been interested in the medical field, and particularly caring for others, Lindsey became interested in sonography after a serious skiing accident her sophomore year of high school. She was hospitalized for a period of time and saw firsthand so many different specialties in the hospital.
At first, she was really interested in x-ray technology. Then the more she started researching imaging, the more she became interested in ultrasound. “I actually work in an entry-level position in the field right now,” she added. “It’s super interesting and every day is different.”
Lindsey works part-time as an aide in the summer at Northwestern Medical Center in the diagnostic imaging wing, in addition to working on her family’s business, Ferrisdale Farm, where they care for a herd of about 100 dairy cows. Lindsey mainly does the milking and calf care, although sometimes she helps with tagging and vaccines too. “We all pitch in,” she said. When she’s on for morning milking, her days start as early as 4:30 AM. “Every week is different, and I like it,” she added.
Envisioning her future
Lindsey’s care skills first developed on the farm, although she admits that she doesn’t see herself keeping this schedule her whole life. Her dream is to have a flexible job, the ability to travel, and maybe someday to have a much smaller operation that includes chickens or a mini Highlander cow. Ultrasound will offer her that opportunity. The shifts are often three longer blocks each week, freeing up the other days for family, travel, and hobbies, all of which interests Lindsey.
Now that she’s entering her sophomore year in college, Lindsey reflects upon her first-year journey. “I’d never been more than four hours from home before going to Regis,” she said—the farm schedule doesn’t really allow her family the flexibility to travel. And, she’s been learning how to balance her academics with being a student athlete. Her coaches are understanding of her academic workload.
For Lindsey, who struggled a little with test taking in high school and was worried that would impact her in college, having support as she navigated her freshman year has been incredibly helpful. She takes personal responsibility for her education and knows that she must put in some extra work studying and show initiative in order to be successful in her classes.
Lindsey is also working toward her phlebotomy license and will take her board exam in July. Once certified, she will be able to work as a phlebotomist and earn additional income to help cover her tuition costs. This year, she also received scholarship support from both her college and VSAC.
Through hard work, determination, and a clear sense of purpose, Lindsey is steadily building the future in healthcare that she envisioned.
The Vermont Student Assistance Corp. was created by the Vermont Legislature in 1965 as a public nonprofit agency. We advocate for Vermont students and their families to ensure that they have the tools they need to achieve their education and training goals. We create opportunities for all Vermont students, but particularly for those—of any age—who believe that the doors to education are closed to them. Growing families save for education with VT529, Vermont’s official 529 savings program. To help Vermonters plan and pay for college or job training, our counselors work with students in nearly every Vermont middle school and high school, and are also available to work with adults. Our grant, scholarship, and workforce development programs create opportunity, help students re-skill or learn new skills, and grow the economy. VSAC’s loan, loan refinance, and loan forgiveness programs provide competitive education financing to students and families. Find us at www.vsac.org or visit Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
