There is a small building that sits somewhat apart from the rest of the Veterans Parkway campus of Southern Regional Technical College. That little building houses the Esthetics Program of SRTC.

Esthetics is the study of the care and treatment of skin. I’m not much of a girlie girl, but I am curious, and I did spend many childhood summers absorbing as many UV rays as I could fit into every sunny day. Additionally, Southern Regional Technical College’s Esthetics Program offers their treatments to the public for a tiny fraction of what it would cost elsewhere. Curiosity and a close look into my car’s vanity mirror finally sent me walking across the parking lot into the cool, softly decorated interior of the Esthetics building.

After a preliminary skin analysis and hydrating facial, a student named Debra recommended a course of treatment that included a light chemical peel. My apprehension at such a scary-sounding treatment quickly vanished as she confidently explained each step of my one-hour long facial treatment. Her understanding of skin physiology was fascinating, and her reassuring voice and gentle hands were comforting.

It was her practiced professionalism that led me to ask about her life, and I am so glad that I did. I often find myself writing about nontraditional students here at SRTC. Debra Brock could better described as a nontraditional person … and what an inspiration she is.

At 15 years old, Debra found herself pregnant. It was the mid-1970s, and she did what she felt she was supposed to do: she dropped out of school and got married. If you are guessing that her story ground to a halt there, guess again. After escaping a brief but abusive marriage with her two young daughters, Debra made what she calls her first smart strategic move: at 19-years-old, she bought her first home.

Owning a home is not a typical 19-year-old’s goal, but Debra is not a typical kind of person. She soon married again, and gave birth to her two sons. That marriage also ended in divorce, but her story doesn’t stop there, either. In a way, that marriage ending was the true beginning of her story.

Now a young, single mom with four children to support, and with only a GED to show for her education, Debra was motivated to make another bold strategic move. This time, she opened her own cleaning business. Becoming her own boss, she could work as much as it took to make ends meet.

She did much more than just make ends meet. With a tireless work ethic and a keen focus on great customer service, her cleaning service grew and developed into a commercial janitorial service that she now owns with her husband, Derrick Brock, and that business handles dozens of commercial clients.

Still, her story doesn’t end with founding and running one successful business. At the age of 50, she made another carefully considered move when she decided it was time to go to college. Upon earning her Neuromuscular Massage Therapist certification, she opened a second business, Massage Therapy by Debra Brock, in Bainbridge, Georgia.

Her massage therapy business grew steadily, and she was able to buy the historic Henry House. There, her businesses grew to include a popular gift shop. Recognizing that her spa was ready to grow, Debra began searching for an esthetics program that would meet her needs, give her the training she required to expand her services to include skin-care, and continue to offer her clients world-class service.

Now the owner of three thriving businesses, Mrs. Brock’s time is at a premium, so in her search for a college program, convenience and flexibility were chief among her curriculum requirements. When she selected SRTC as her college of choice, it meant commuting all the way from Bainbridge to Moultrie three times each week. Nevertheless, she felt that it was another smart strategic move worth making. The esthetics instructors worked with her to create a schedule that would allow her to continue running her businesses while she completes her education. Most importantly, however, Mrs. Brock is confident that the top-notch training she is receiving at SRTC will further enrich her lives of her clients.

Leaving the Esthetics building with my freshly baby-soft skin, I had a stack of notes and pamphlets in my hands. Staring up at me from the top one was SRTC’s tagline: “Your Future. Your Career. Start Here.” I smiled as I thought to myself that we could add another line for unstoppable people like Debra Brock: “Your best life is just ahead.”

Those interested in scheduling an appointment with the Esthetics Program may call 229-891-7014. Those interested in becoming an esthetician may explore the program online: http://southernregional.edu/academics/esthetician. For more information about Debra Brock’s businesses, search Facebook for The Henry House, and for Massage Therapy by Debra Brock.