'Connecting the Bots': Mother and daughter are preparing for the future, together

The TV is tuned in one of those shows about wedding dresses. It's something mothers and daughters love to watch.

Ashley Adams, 21, and her mom Sandy Collins, 53, watch a lot of that kind of television. That and the Hallmark channel. But there is something a bit different about this mom and daughter - they are attending college together.

"She's usually going, 'Mom, have you done your homework yet?' And I am like, 'No, when is it due?'" said Collins, who is a college student for the first time after spending years as a homemaker.

Both are enrolled at Wake Tech Community College's program for medical assistants.

"I went to Wake Tech for medical assisting and I was telling her about the program and she was interested," said Adams.

Collins decided to go back to school to pursue a new path after her divorce three years ago. Adams found her way to the program after what she called "major hopping" over a few years at UNC Greensboro and NC Central University.

"I decided on this program because I wanted to do the clinical part and the office part," said Adams.

They also wanted to pursue the career because it's considered "safe." Health care is one of the industries that is expected to grow in the years ahead.

"Unfortunately, people are going to get sick," said Collins.

It's also the kind of work that is hard to outsource and it's a job that is not likely to be lost to automation.

"I definitely needed something that I knew I could get a job straight out of college," said Adams. "I needed to know it would be a secure job."

Adams and Collins take most of their classes online. Collins works four days a week while studying for her degree.

Mom and daughter said they feel a calling to help people and medical assisting allows them to pursue the passion. The fact that they get to do it together, makes it even more special.

"If you're 21 or 53," said Adams smiling at her mom. "There's always a good time to think about your future."