As a dislocated worker from the textile industry, Deborah Ballew was very excited for the opportunity to attend Southwestern Community College to update her skills and enter an entirely new job market. “Working a swing shift prevented me from attending college,” said Deb. Although the plant closure was an uneasy time for her, she tried to quiet her fears by focusing on the positive – a chance for an exciting, new career. “My fears were soon put to rest with the fantastic admissions and advisory staff at Southwestern. The classes were small, with students of varied ages and very experienced instructors, so I felt right at home.” She graduated with a degree in business administration from Southwestern on a Tuesday, and by that Friday had a job.” I feel that the skills I acquired at Southwestern were a key to my success in finding employment so quickly,” said Deb, who is a transit dispatcher/receptionist at Macon County Transit.