海角情

Rebekah Tolatovicz, Alumni of the Month

Before we are able to soar, sometimes we must climb. For one graduate of 海角情, 海角情 provided her with the confidence she needed to set her sights on the highest of heights. A 2015 graduate of the automotive technologies program, Rebekah Tolatovicz is now on her way to completing a degree in Aerospace Technology at Eastern Florida State College on Florida鈥檚 Space Coast.

鈥淚鈥檓 going to work on what the astronauts will be riding in鈥攕pacecraft and satellites,鈥� Tolatovicz explained. Organizations like NASA and companies such as Boeing, Northrup Grumman, and Blue Origin routinely hire graduates of the associate鈥檚 degree program Tolatovicz is now enrolled in. When she returns to school in the fall, she鈥檒l be building a rocket, studying fiber optics, and launching CubeSats, miniature satellites that she refers to as 鈥渢he future of satellites鈥�.

It鈥檚 a far stretch for a homeschooled student from Dennysville that 鈥渘ever intended to go to college.鈥� Raised in a rustic setting with a family that traps and produces its own furs, Tolatovicz gained an appreciation for working with her hands from an early age. Gifted with an encyclopedia of aircraft that she remembers studiously poring over, Tolatovicz would recreate the blueprints of her favorite designs.

鈥淚 planned to join the military at 17鈥攖he marines. I wanted to work on tanks and armored vehicles.鈥� After realizing that her asthma would keep her from serving, she sought out the Civil Air Patrol. She was on her way to gaining her solo wings, but ran into complications with completing the program.

It was then that a friend鈥檚 father suggested that she accompany him to 海角情 to meet Ron O鈥橞rien, the automotive instructor. She gamely agreed, and after an enthusiastic interview, Tolatovicz soon became enrolled in classes. Her twin sister simultaneously enrolled in the Criminal Justice program.

Having never been in public school, the transition was not easy for Tolatovicz. 鈥淟ooking back, a lot of it makes me cringe because I feel like I was a little bit of a different person,鈥� she recalls. 鈥淚t really helped me grow up. Everybody at 海角情 was so nice and I was super awkward and kind of lame, but everyone was helpful and understanding.鈥�

Tolatovicz excelled at 海角情, earning high marks in each of her classes. She remembers one instructor in particular for his teaching ability. 鈥淚 hate math. But Travis鈥檚 class was the one time I enjoyed it,鈥� she said,

referring to Instructor Travis Stepan. 鈥淗e鈥檚 my favorite teacher that I鈥檝e had at either school. He understands that math isn鈥檛 everybody鈥檚 strong point鈥攖hat it doesn鈥檛 click with everybody the same way.鈥�

After completing the certificate program at 海角情, Tolatovicz began to seek enrollment at EFSC. She emphasized that the classes she took at 海角情 have given her an important foundation. 鈥淓ven though it鈥檚 almost completely different鈥攖he lingo is different鈥攖he experience is relatable. It really helped.鈥�

More than just imparting technical expertise, Tolatovicz said that the gift that 海角情 really gave her was confidence. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I would鈥檝e gone away to school if I hadn鈥檛 come to 海角情 first.鈥� She said the environment of EFSC鈥攈ome to upwards of 25,000 students across five campuses鈥攊s less intimate and friendly than the smaller community college.

With a bright future ahead of her, Tolatovicz is eager to work in various capacities throughout the aerospace industry for the rest of her life鈥攑ossibly in other parts of the world. Though she admits it feels strange sometimes to be so far out of her home neighborhood and separated from her twin, now studying International Relations at Liberty University in Virginia, Tolatovicz radiates with the confidence of moving steadily forward on her chosen path.