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Maria Teresa Blankenship
B.A. Liberal Studies, 2006
M.A. Psychology, Mental Health Counseling, 2009
Prior to enrolling in Antioch's B.A. program, Maria Blankenship was a nurse at the Naval Air Station clinic on Whidbey Island in search of an education where her Inka culture would be accepted and appreciated. (The modern-day spelling, Inca, began with the Spaniards.) She says other universities always fell short when she got to the interview process.
One night after her meditation, she did an Internet search on "alternative medicine universities" and Antioch popped up. She called the next day, just in time to meet the application deadline.
"I think I am more important than a car or a house, so why not invest in my future? This also means I am investing in my family and my community because whatever I learn at Antioch, I can practice anywhere."
"I do not think I chose Antioch," she says. "I believe in my heart of hearts that Antioch was chosen for me by my grandmother.
"Why do I feel my grandmother picked Antioch? Because of its philosophy, and I believe that, as my guide, she wanted me to be able to continue my education in a place where my culture would be accepted to a certain extent and I could grow in the telling of her stories as well as from the challenges that others might bring my way. This is the way of the warrior. The challenges that are given to me only make me stronger as a Medicine Woman, as a human being and as a sister to all who cross my path."
With her background in nursing and her interest in health healing and herbalism, Blankenship chose to follow an individualized B.A. program, which she describes as a growing experience and unforgettable journey.
She received 24 credits for her life experience. "This has been invaluable to me," she says. "I find myself better prepared for job interviews because I can actually tell the prospective employer all my attributes as well as my challenges faster then before. I appear more confident and sure of myself."
Among her best memories: Walking across the stage to collect her B.A. degree at graduation, seeing how proud her husband David was of her accomplishments. (David Blankenship became an Antioch B.A. student as well.)
"Another memory has been the ability for me to speak in class about my Inka ancestry, my customs and culture without being told by teachers, 'that was in the past, you are here in the U.S. now,'" she says.
Blankenship says the cost of an Antioch education was a consideration.
"For me, this was something to think about, until I came to the realization I have invested in various material things all my life – homes, cars, clothes etc. – but I had never taken the time to invest in myself. I think I am more important than a car or a house, so why not invest in my future? This also means I am investing in my family and my community because whatever I learn at Antioch, I can practice anywhere. Higher education also means better jobs, which means better pay, which means better buying power in your community, so, for me, this is an investment in the world."
She credits several staff members with assisting her along the way, especially Financial Aid Counselor Shanti Alas and B.A. Office Manager Jack Johnston.
"There's no question I have asked Shanti that she has not been able to respond to in an accurate and timely manner," she notes.
"I did have the opportunity to do an independent study," she says, "And there again, the knowledge of Jack Johnston, the B.A. office manager, made everything flow very smoothly."
Blankenship also has kudos for the B.A. faculty.
"I wish I could say that one faculty member in particular inspired me, but I have to be honest and say every member of the faculty who has touched my life has inspired me in their own way, every one of them inspired me to go on when I did not think I could.
"The support I have received here at Antioch to succeed has been phenomenal, I can truly say all of my teachers have wanted me to succeed because I have felt their caring for not only for me but also all their students," she says.
She chose to continue on at Antioch and is now studying for her master's degree in psychology. "It has been very challenging but fun, as I have learned a great deal and it is nice to actually be studying the things I need to know to be a good therapist." After she completes her master's, her plan is to continue her studies at either Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Ariz., or National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Ore. She already has been accepted at both.
Higher education involves a lot of hard work, she says, but she takes great satisfaction in the knowledge she has attained.
"No one can take that away from you," she adds.
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