100 Stories – Story 1

Celebrating 100 Years at North Central Missouri College, 100 Stories for 100 Years

In honor of North Central Missouri College’s centennial, NCMC will spotlight 100 inspiring stories throughout the academic year. These narratives will showcase the voices and journeys of our alumni, students, faculty, staff, donors, and the communities that have shaped TJC/NCMC’s legacy. Each story is a tribute to the people throughout history who make NCMC extraordinary.

Story 1: Megan Miller

Associate in Applied Science, Business & Technology
Graduation Year: 2016

A few months into my first semester at NCMC, I discovered there were student employment opportunities on campus. An instructor suggested I apply to be a tutor for… MATH! Yes, math—despite doing well in my coursework, it was never a subject I particularly enjoyed. Hate might even be a more accurate word. Still, when the opportunity came up, I decided to step outside my comfort zone and apply for the student worker position. To my surprise, I received a call to interview for two campus positions: Math Tutor and a position in the Registrar’s Office. I interviewed for both on the same day. I distinctly remember telling them in my interview that I did not like math and was not sure how well I would do with advising students in it. Was I being honest, or blatantly self-sabotaging?

I went on to interview for the second position, now fully convinced that I was terrible at interviewing and definitely not destined to be a MATH tutor.  I was incredibly nervous as I walked into the more formal office setting, dressed in my best. To my relief, the job aligned well with my degree path—and math was not a daily requirement!

In the end, I accepted the position as a student worker in the Registrar’s Office. Several months later, I stepped into a part-time role as the Registrar’s Academic Records Clerk. I even wrote the date on my own NCMC Diploma! When the Registrar retired, I was promoted to Assistant Registrar—and I have now been with the office for 10 years.

How many people can say their first job turned into a decade-long career? NCMC is a great place to work—full of dedicated people, challenging roles, and opportunities galore. Take advantage of the opportunities that arise; they might lead to a math tutoring gig you were never meant for, or they might turn into something lasting and rewarding.