91¶¶Òõ

Name: Christy Eslinger

Hometown: Tulsa

Major: Biotechnology

Expected Date of Graduation: May 2018

Why did you choose your major?
This is a funny story. I was in the RN program, or least that was the plan. In my Intro to Biology for Majors class, my professor approached me and asked why I was going into a field I really didn't seem to be enthusiastic about. I explained it was the fastest route to a degree after being a paramedic for 20 years. She introduced me to the biotechnology field. We had a lab where Dr. Spencer and Janice Airhart came over and I was hooked. I couldn't believe I could take all the medical knowledge I had and refocus it on the cellular level. I asked Janice to give me a tour of the biotechnology labs and I think I changed my major that day.

Why did you choose 91¶¶Òõ?
I was a paramedic for 20 years and 91¶¶Òõ has the bridge program where you can bridge to RN in one year. This was the main reason for choosing 91¶¶Òõ in the beginning but now I have to say that 91¶¶Òõ has several very high quality programs.

What do you think makes you successful?
The stubbornness to keep showing up and keep asking why. There were plenty of times I was completely overwhelmed but I kept going to class. I kept asking the professors for help and making the extra effort to really understand the material. Never be ashamed to ask for help.

What are your plans after 91¶¶Òõ? 
I start NSU in the fall with a molecular biology major. This will allow me to get my bachelor’s degree. Then I plan to return to the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences and continue the research I've already started there and hopefully get my PhD.