John Striednig’s first stint as a college student did not go as planned. Dropping
out to join the workforce, he never stopped wondering what could have been. When a
new opportunity to get into the classroom presented itself, he took it as a sign to
give his education another chance.
“In the spring of 2020, I was living in Lubbock, Texas, and was sick of being away
from my family in Hot Springs,” Striednig said. “I moved back home right as the COVID-19
pandemic hit. A few months later, I read an article in the newspaper about National
Park College’s (NPC) partnership with Southern Arkansas University (SAU) to offer
four-year bachelor’s degrees. I already wanted to go back to school and it seemed
like the perfect fit for me.”
Striednig quickly signed up for online courses and by the fall of 2021, he was back
in the classroom with a fulltime class load.
“Once I did some learning as an adult and realized a little about the different specialties
you can get into as a doctor, psychiatry was one that sparked my passion,” Striednig
said. “I’ve always wanted to be a doctor, since I was 11 or 12. I have several family
members who have dealt with mental illness. It’s a very important subject for me.”
As a nontraditional student returning to school at the helm of a brand-new program,
Striednig embraced each challenge with a positive attitude.
“We’re not guinea pigs—we’re trailblazers,” Striednig said. “By taking a very mature
approach to our education, we gained character development and other skills that we
wouldn’t have had otherwise. The benefit we got for that was getting an education
right here for not as much money. I feel honored to have been part of this program.”
On May 13, Striednig graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology – Pre-Health.
“Walking across the stage was a huge honor for me,” Striednig said. “Before this partnership
existed, students in the area that wanted to pursue a health care degree beside nursing
couldn’t stick around here. I hope that by seeing us walk across the stage, it shows
that it’s possible to get it done through NPC and SAU.”
Surrounded by inspirational mentors throughout his journey, Striednig attributes his
success to those who supported him most.
“No one does it alone,” Striednig said. “My granddad, my parents, my brother and my
sister were always there for me. In the professional sphere, Dr. Chuck Argo was a
big rock for me. He was there whenever I needed him. Dr. Uttar Shrestha is also someone
who has a great passion for student success. He’s the kind of teacher that makes you
want to succeed for them because you don’t want to let them down.”
With degree in hand, Striednig is hard at work laying the groundwork for the year
ahead.
“This summer, I’ll be researching and shadowing for 10 weeks in the Pre-Medical Summer
Scholars Program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Division for Diversity,
Equity and Inclusion,” Striednig said. “While I’ll be working on professional development,
volunteering and applying to med school, I also plan to take some time to travel and
enjoy myself before it’s time to buckle down for the next phase.”
Reflecting on his journey, Striednig is most proud of his perseverance.
“Success comes in all forms and at different times,” Striednig said. “It isn’t always
linear and no two paths look the same. I’m 29 years old. A big part of my journey
was dropping out of college, doing some soul searching and taking six years to come
back. The second time was when I finally got it right.”
