SEPTEMBER /OCTOBER 2015
Denise Reccardi loved being a nurse. But after almost 30 years as a combat nurse in the Unites States Navy, an injury ended her career. In 2014, Reccardi took a medical discharge, then had 
to decide what to do with the rest of her life.
Because of her injury, she couldn’t return to nursing “even as a civilian,” says the 51-year-old Columbia resident, who has three adult children.
Thanks to a U.S. Veterans Administration program that helps veterans transition to civilian careers, Reccardi was able to take tests to determine the best path. She did well in psychology and counseling, says Reccardi, who then researched career options available locally.
Reccardi has finished the first year in a four-year pastoral counseling degree program at Loyola University Maryland Columbia Graduate Center.” I like that there is a spiritual element, like a chaplaincy role,” said Reccardi, whose goal is to return to the military albeit in a different capacity.
“I want to work with veterans with traumatic brain injuries and stress disorders. I want to help them professionally,” said Reccardi.
Alethea Franklin was working for the federal government when she decided to switch careers. Her job, she says, wasn’t a good fit, so she went back to school.
Franklin, a Columbia resident and single parent in her 50s, has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology and business. In 2013, she enrolled in Howard Community College in an accounting program that prepares candidates to take the Maryland certified public accountant (CPA) exam.
“I thought accounting was more closely aligned with my educational background,” says Franklin, who also considered a program in information technology but felt her lack of job experience in the field would hamper her future job search.
Franklin says returning to school, especially while working full time, wasn’t easy. In fact, she says, “My first class was insanely difficult. Then I got my study habits back. And, it turns out, I love accounting.”
“My first class was insanely difficult. Then I got my study habits back. And, it turns
out, I love accounting.” – Alethea Franklin
By fall 2015, Franklin expects to finish her courses and then sit for the CPA exam. Her summer will be spent job hunting. “I’ll have a new job by the end of this year,” she said. “That’s my goal.”
– Barbara Pash
