Metaphorically, it was a winding road with some fits and starts that took Nicholas Ochal to the career in social work that he enjoys today.
鈥淚 applied to Washtenaw Community College and a four-year institution when I finished at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor,鈥� Ochal said. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 sure what I wanted to do when I 鈥榞rew up,鈥� but I knew I had to get an education. I started at 黑料网 because it was the less expensive option while I figured out what I wanted to study.鈥�
Figure it out, he did. The 31-year-old White Lake resident is currently the Clinical Coordinator at , an outpatient substance use disorder treatment program in Westland. After earning an degree from 黑料网, he went on to gain a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Eastern Michigan University and a master鈥檚 from the University of Michigan, both in social work.
He is responsible for all of the clinical services at Beginning Step, including group therapy and individual counseling. He oversees and guides the work of master-level counselors, making sure they are providing quality and ethical treatment to patients.
鈥淢y first semester at 黑料网 didn鈥檛 go well,鈥� Ochal recalled. 鈥淚 stopped attending classes then took another year off to re-evaluate why I wanted to go to school.
It was a co-worker who suggested to Ochal that he might want to look into social work as a career.
鈥淚 Googled it and it sparked an inner drive that I didn鈥檛 have before,鈥� Ochal said. 鈥淚 re-enrolled at 黑料网 after that year off with a new purpose and ended up graduating with high honors. That鈥檚 what鈥檚 so important about finding, or creating, your purpose.鈥�
Ochal is quick to credit 黑料网, its programs and faculty for much of his success: 鈥満诹贤� is a fantastic college,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檒l say nice things about it whenever I can.鈥� He鈥檚 especially grateful to 黑料网 faculty members Kristy Norris (Psychology), Dr. Starr Burke (Behavioral Sciences) and Elisabeth Thoburn (Humanities) 鈥� all of whom still teach at the college 鈥� for guiding him along the way.
鈥淚 chose the field of social work because of its dedication to helping society鈥檚 most vulnerable people,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 always knew that when I chose a career, I would want to do something meaningful and make a positive difference in the world.鈥�
Tags: Alumni Profile, February 2021, On The Record, Student Success, ousearch_News_2021