Melinda Cannon had the support of her family while attending Texas State Technical College.

The mother of two TSTC graduates decided to go to school knowing she would need a support system. She is now a candidate for graduation with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Health Information Technology.

Cannon, who works at Comanche County Medical Center, is now preparing to take the Registered Health Information Technician exam.

“My kids gave me a lot of help, especially on the technical side,” Cannon said. “I did not know much about building websites and using computers. I had to tell them, ‘Mom does not have a clue.’ It was also great to have a husband who would allow them to help.”

Cannon’s daughter, Rachel, received an associate degree from TSTC in Health Information Technology and is working in the same hospital as her mother.

“She is a medical coder at the same hospital. We work in the same building, but there is a wall between us,” Cannon said.

Cannon has always been interested in the medical field. After raising her family, she decided to pursue college.

“I knew that I was not that knowledgeable with computers, so I decided to go to school,” she said. “I had a background in the medical field, but the knowledge of today’s terminology was something I would need to learn.”

She chose TSTC because her daughter and son, Caleb, both earned degrees at the college. Her son graduated from the Drafting and Design program.

“I knew it would be hard going back to school at the age of 50, but I was able to get things together,” she said. “Overall, TSTC prepared me to do well in the health care field. It introduced me to other systems that I was not used to using.”

Cannon said the online classes allowed her to work at her own pace.

“I was able to learn more about medical terminology and what to expect in the field,” she said.

The family will celebrate her accomplishment during the virtual summer commencement celebration available on social media.

“We are planning to gather around the computer and watch the celebration,” she said. “It will be a great family moment.”

Registration for the fall semester is underway. For more information, go to https://tstc.edu/admissions.

Melinda Cannon is a candidate for graduation in TSTC’s Health Information Technology program. She is the third member of her family to attend and graduate from TSTC. (Photo courtesy of TSTC)