After finding the perfect career path at GTCC, Johnson-Meeks is excited for her next steps in the medical field

“Once I learned about the surgical technology career, I’ve found it super interesting. I thought I would love to be in the operating room, love to be able to help save lives, and help contribute in a big and important way in patient safety and health."

For some, picking a career path is something done at a very young age. This was the case for Candice Johnson-Meeks, a GTCC surgical technology student who will graduate in May 2026. Johnson-Meeks always knew her heart was drawn to the medical field, but it took a winding road for her to find the perfect path.

As a child growing up in Los Angeles she felt her calling in the medical field was to become a neurosurgeon.

“Growing up I always wanted to be a neurosurgeon, so in high school I started looking at career paths in my education to head in that direction. However, I was also a member of the cheer team, and we had an athletic trainer and thought what she was doing was interesting. So, then I switched my goal to becoming a physical therapist.”

With that goal in mind, Johnson-Meeks headed off to a four-year university in California right after high school.

“In 2015, I went to Cal State Northridge and was majoring in kinesiology, but it wasn’t working out for me. I was going through some personal things and decided to move to North Carolina with my mom.”

So, Johnson-Meeks headed east to High Point in 2018 and a few years later, she welcomed her first child and realized she needed to make a decision about her career.

“In 2020, I had my son, and I knew then I needed to have a steady income and a career. I decided while I was pregnant, to go to cosmetology school. When he was two months old, I started Leon’s Beauty School and graduated in 2021. Ever since then, I’ve been doing hair, but it wasn’t filling my cup. I’ve always known I wanted to do something with medicine and really wanted to be in the operating room.”

After a few years working full-time as a stylist and caring for her son, she decided to investigate options in the medical field.

“In 2023, I was doing research to see what the best path for me would be and found GTCC’s surgical technology program. That’s when I became a full-time student in the GTCC Associate in Arts, Pre-Surgical Technology Pathway, while still working as a cosmetologist.”

Quickly, Johnson-Meeks knew she was on the right track.

“Once I learned about the surgical technology career, I’ve found it super interesting. I thought I would love to be in the operating room, love to be able to help save lives, and help contribute in a big and important way in patient safety and health. I also thought it was a good gateway career because now my ultimate goal is to go to physician assistant school.”

After being accepted into the surgical technology associate of arts science program at GTCC, she credits her age and life experiences as being a positive factor in returning to school at just the right time.

“Going to school the second time around, I’m so much more focused. I’ve been pretty much getting straight As, and I think that has a lot to do with my age and evolving as a woman and becoming an adult.”

Johnson-Meeks also raves about her experience in GTCC’s surgical technology program and the professors for properly preparing her for the operating room.

“In the surg tech program, Professor (John) Ratliff is very adamant that we are the absolute best and gives very thorough and extensive labs. The labs are super hands on. We learn how to set up a back table, how to gown and glove, and we really hone in on our aseptic technique in the lab. We were able to perfect everything before we were sent off to clinicals.”

Now, in her last year of the program, she’s been with the same clinical provider her entire rotation and solidifying her childhood dream of working in this field.

“Clinicals are actually my favorite thing and I’m running my own back table; I’m actually doing the job! I’m handing instruments, retracting tissue, and maintaining sterility. I’m currently in a hospital operating room assisting with procedures.”

Not only has Johnson-Meeks’ time at GTCC properly prepared her for on the job training but it’s provided so much more.

“Something that has surprised me about my time at GTCC is that, after attending a four-year college before, I have never run across professors that care so much about their students as professors Ratliff and (Maggi) Ortiz. They genuinely care about our wellbeing and mental health, as much as our academics. They make it a point to let us know they’re always here for us! And I have called upon them a couple of times and they’ve been nothing but supportive.”

And the admiration is mutual.

“From the very start, I could see something special in Candice,” said Ortiz. “We had advising meetings in my office where there were tears from both of us! But those moments only showed me how deeply she cares about her future and how determined she is to push through challenges.

“Her background as a hairdresser shines through in her technique, precision, and attention to detail, but it’s her caring nature, dedication, and wonderful personality that truly set her apart. Here at GTCC, where we make amazing happen, she is a true example of what that means.”

And with physician assistant school on the horizon, Johnson-Meeks even mentions it would be a “dream” to attend Duke University.

“I’m very grateful for having been accepted into the GTCC surgical technology program and feel like it’s been very transformative in my life and feel like professors Ratliff and Ortiz are going to be really big contributions to my success. I’m so grateful for them.”