Military Injury Opens the Door to a New Career for Army Vet

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Phaylyn Murphy


On the evening of Saturday, July 29th, The Foundation of Southern Regional Technical College recognized the inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award Winners during the foundation’s first annual Dueling Pianos event in Moultrie, Georgia. Those recognized were Phalyn Murphy, Jason Jacobs, and Meghan McBride. This week and in following weeks, this series of articles will introduce readers to the three distinguished alumni, who all began their careers as students at SRTC. Earlier this month, we met doctoral candidate Meghan McBride. Today, we’d like to introduce you to a veteran of the US Army, Phalyn Murphy.

As a young soldier, Phalyn Murphy found an aptitude for discipline, self-improvement, and multi-tasking. While serving her country, she became certified as both a Mechanic and an HVAC Technician. After six years as a Chemical Equipment Repairer for the US Army, a hip injury caused her to be honorably discharged in 2014. Through the course of her ensuing surgeries, physical therapy, and medical massage treatments, Phalyn discovered a new direction for her life. Just three months after separating from the military, Phalyn was accepted into the Neuromuscular Massage Therapy program on the Moultrie campus of SRTC. “I realized that I wanted to help other people recover from surgery, deal with stress, and just feel better,” she explained, as to why she chose that career path.

Holding down a full-time job while taking care of her two children, Phalyn credits her time in the Army with giving her the determination and work ethic to be able to pursue her education without skipping a beat. “My military background totally prepared me by giving me the discipline I needed to take five to six classes every semester for the past three years.” She would often put in six hours of school work per day, regularly staying up late after her children were fed and in bed. Phalyn swiftly completed her NMT diploma. Resolute, she decided to keep going. She made a new goal of earning a degree in Business Administration, which she will complete this winter. “When I walk across that stage in January I will walk with 6 certificates, one diploma, my general associates, and my degree in Business Administrative Technology.”

Phalyn is currently employed at South Georgia Spine and Joint Center in Thomasville, GA where she can provide both Neuromuscular Massage and Swedish Massage. As a Neuromuscular Massage Therapist, Phalyn is required to complete 24 hours of Continuing Education bi-annually. She has also completed courses including Ethics of Working with People with Cancer and Developing Clinical Strategies for Chronic Pain. Phalyn plans on continuing her education at Valdosta State University, in pursuit of her Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy. Despite all that she has accomplished since starting college in 2014, Corporal Phalyn Murphy sums up her achievements with a soldier’s brevity: “Been a busy three years."

Any person who attended Southern Regional Technical College, Southwest Georgia Technical College, or Moultrie Technical College are invited to join SRTC’s Alumni Association. Please visit online at http://southernregional.edu/alumni-association, or call the Advancement Office at 229-225-3977 for more information.


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