Erica Rhodes, ACHS Scholarship Recipient | achs.edu

I chose the American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS) for holistic health education for several reasons. ACHS is a very military-friendly college which is important to me as an active duty Soldier. I am impressed by the great electives offered in the M.S. in Complementary Alternative Medicine Program (CAM), which allows me to explore a variety of subjects and broaden my knowledge in holistic health practice. https://achs.edu/course/cam-100

Additionally, I appreciates the flexibility of an online program that allows me to balance my military career, as a Specialist in the Army stationed at Ft. Jackson, SC, with my continued education. https://achs.edu/our-military-students Receiving the scholarship is helping me achieve my goals because the Army Tuition Assistance Program does not fully cover the costs of the program. https://www.military.com/education/money-for-school/army-tuition-assistance.html A special bonus for me is, even without face-to-face classes, I feel connected to my professors and classmates.

I am so grateful to have received this scholarship and will use it to dive deeper into my holistic health studies. This scholarship provides significant financial relief from the out-of-pocket costs of the CAM Program. It helps that I can use scholarship funds to purchase extra supplies and the recommended outside resources that are not required for each class.

Someday, I hope to use my M.S. in CAM to better the lives of service members and veterans. As an active duty service member, I see a distinct lack of holistic health care in military medicine and the effects of this on soldiers every day. By becoming an expert in holistic health care, I can be an informed and outspoken advocate for holistic health care for the military, and even provide that care myself! I have experienced the benefits of holistic health care throughout my life, and ACHS is providing me with a quality education and encouragement to pursue my passion, which may change the military health care system for the better!

At first, I was unsure that I was ready to pursue an online degree and was worried that I wouldn’t be able to have time to commit to my classwork. With a bit of weekly planning and a can do attitude, I’m getting A’s in my first classes! My biggest piece of advice for others beginning their distance learning education journey is to establish small goals needed to complete each assignment throughout the week, then stick to them! Breaking down the assignments makes them significantly less stressful and allows time to ask for help before the assignment is due.

I play the oboe in the 282nd Army Band at Ft. Jackson, SC. I’m glad to say that I’m happily married to my wonderful husband, Matthew, and we enjoy our life with our dog, Denver, and cat, Jackson. I earned a Bachelor Degree in Music Education from Meredith College, and I’m excited to formally study complementary alternative medicine, another passion in her life alongside music.

About American College of Healthcare Sciences

Founded in 1978, ACHS.edu is a Portland, Ore.-based, accredited college offering online, on-campus, and study abroad integrative health education. With undergraduate and graduate degrees, diplomas, certificates, and continuing education units in integrative health, ACHS makes holistic health and wellness education accessible to a diverse community, including healthcare professionals, military students, stay-at-home parents, and lifelong learners. Specializations include aromatherapy, herbal medicine, holistic nutrition, and wellness. ACHS is a Certified B Corporation^® and was named two of 100 Best Green Workplaces in Oregon 2017 by Oregon Business magazine. ACHS is also accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Visit achs.edu.