Mother, Daughter take classes together at RCC, become CCMAs

When Erika Lambert, 18, was a senior in high school, she just knew she wanted to go into the medical field. But her mother wanted her to be sure that she wanted to go in that direction before she spent too much time studying a subject she might not enjoy.

“I’ve earned many certifications from Robeson Community College over the years – CNA, EMT, Pharmacy Tech, Medication Aide,” said Heather Maynor-Lambert, Erika’s mother. “I told Erika that it would be good to see if she would really like the health field before she invested a lot of time and money on her education.”

Given that Heather had been a student of RCC’s Continuing education health occupation programs and offerings in the past, she knew that this would be a good place for Erika to do a “trial run” by taking a short-term training class.

“I wanted to get my foot in the door and get some experience in the health field to see which route I wanted to take,” Erika said. “When we saw the medical assisting class available, I knew that was what I wanted to do.”

Since Erika’s mom had never taken the medical assisting class before, she decided to take it too.

“That’s how we ended up in class together,” Heather said. “I had the highest average and Erika had the second highest average at the end of class.”

Taking the class together gave Heather and Erika a strong support system that they could not have found anywhere else.

“When I had a major question, I asked her because she had practical experience in the health field,” Erika said. “It was fun taking a class with my Mom.”

“I enjoyed it too,” said her mother. “It gave me insight into who Erika was as a student and I was very impressed.”

“Erika was the youngest student in the class, and I was the oldest,” Heather said. “Erika was still in high school when she took the class, she had a full course load with 12 credit hours, which were CCP classes through RCC as well as an additional two courses at Lumberton High School, but she still managed to make time for the medical assisting class.”

The medical assisting class met three nights a week and required onsite labs, which took place every other Saturday.

“We also had to complete 100 clinical hours, which we both completed during the summer at Scotland Urgent Care,” her mother said. “Like I said, I was very impressed about my daughter and her abilities to manage everything and to do so well in the class, it was amazing.”

“Once she puts her mind to something, she is a go-getter,” Heather stated. “She graduated in the top of her class, was a part of the Beta Club, National Honor Society, a NC Scholar, and the National Technical Honor Society. She only had one B while she was in high school.”

Both mother and daughter say they enjoyed the class greatly. The duo went on to take the national certification exam through NHA and both are now Certified Clinical Medical Assistants, or CCMA for short.

Erika, now 19, will complete the Associate of Science degree this May at Robeson Community College, using the credits she earned through the Career and College Promise Initiative. She graduated from high school in 2024 and accelerated her degree through the CCP credits she earned.

“With those courses, she could transfer to UNC Pembroke to get a BSN,” her mom said proudly.

After earning the CCMA certification, Erika was offered a position at WHCC (Women’s Health Center of the Carolinas) through Scotland’s Physician Network, a job she still holds to this day.

“I enjoy working there,” Erika said. “You get to see a little bit of everything.”

“I really loved the medical assisting class, it was really good, I liked the hands-on part the most,” Erika stated. “I’m still trying to figure everything out as I go.”

“I’m debating on going to nursing school,” Erika said. “I just haven’t made up my mind yet.”

“I want my heart to be set on something, and then I will go for it,” Erika added.

Her mother enjoyed the class as well and is now working as a CCMA at Scotland Urgent Care part-time on Saturdays but doesn’t see working full-time in healthcare at the moment.

“I teach Earth and Environment Science at Lumberton High School, and this is year 23 for me,” Heather said. “My goal is to keep working until I’m 50 years old and then take early retirement and work 3 – 4 days a week as a CCMA.”

While Erika is still in the planning stages of her next steps, her mother says she does not foresee going to nursing school herself.

“But that would make a great story if Erika and I did that together, too,” Heather said as she laughed. “We’ll see.”

With Erika becoming gainfully employed right after high school in the medical profession, and her mother, Heather earning credentials through short-term training so she could supplement her income and gain part-time opportunities, it goes to show the various ways the continuing education at Robeson Community College is helping to change lives and create a new trajectory for families across the county.

“Robeson Community College offers a lot of opportunity through its continuing education program,” Heather said. “If it wasn’t for RCC, a lot more local people would not be able to get the training and education that is offered without leaving home or having to travel.”

“RCC offers opportunities for people like me who work during the daytime, an avenue to go in the evening to further your education,” Heather added. “And for that, I am truly grateful.”

“I’m grateful too,” Erika said. “Because of the medical assisting class, I found a job that I love and I’m working full-time, I was able to take it with my Mom at night, and in May I will have an associate degree too. Attending RCC has been a great experience.”

“We give God the glory,” Erika and Heather said. “We thank the Lord for blessing us with this opportunity together and for Him seeing us through.”