Jonathon Bigsby likes to say he'll probably be "a student for life."

Growing up in a military family, Bigsby lived all over the world, learned multiple languages and thought he might like to become an interpreter after college. But after earning two bachelor's degrees focused on languages and linguistics, he took a job as a compliance officer at a low-income housing complex – and everything changed. He saw people facing health problems and hard times and knew he wanted to help.

"I realized I wanted to have a greater impact," he said. "I want for people to always have a sense of hope, a future worth living for."

Bigsby made a resolution to learn more about the causes of disease and to contribute to the field of biotechnology, which he had heard was really taking off. He thought, "Why wait?" Living in western North Carolina at the time, he decided to take an entry-level position at a pharmaceutical plant in nearby Marion.

As a quality technician, he enjoyed learning about biotechnology and set his sights on becoming a researcher. To make that happen, he knew he would need to further his education.

Bigsby enrolled in a Wake Tech university transfer degree program and also took the college's short-term BioWork certification course. The hybrid course enabled him to take most of his classes online from western North Carolina. Once a month, he drove to the Triangle for in-person classes.

"I took time off work on the days I came to Raleigh for class," he said. "The best thing about the program was the hands-on experience I gained, using professional-grade equipment."

Bigsby's determination was put to the test in the fall of 2024, when Hurricane Helene hit his community in western North Carolina. His home lost access to utilities, the internet and nearby roads, and the pharmaceutical plant he worked at was heavily damaged by floodwaters. Refusing to give up on his commitments, he continued his studies while helping the plant resume operations.

By the time he finished BioWork, the pharmaceutical plant was back online, and the timing was right for a career move. With connections made at a Wake Tech career fair, he was hired as a manufacturing associate for Biogen. He says the BioWork program prepared him well.

"I loved how focused it was," he said. "It's a focused approach for a specific job that employers are hiring for."

Bigsby is continuing his work toward an associate degree, with plans to transfer to a four-year university.

"I would love to become a researcher in the science of longevity or geroscience, which investigates how aging affects disease," he said. "I want to learn about the causes of disease and help find ways to prevent and reverse their progression."

One of his long-term goals is earning a Ph.D. to expand his scope. "I'll probably be a student for life!" he said.

A lifelong learner working to improve the lives of others.