Chloe James left her home on the island of St. Lucia to come to the United States to live with her father eight years ago. She was brought here to help out with her siblings and to find a “better life.” But she didn’t quite know what that would look like at first. When Chloe came to Washington state, she found work as a private caregiver for the elderly, and that opened her eyes to a rewarding career path.

“I started out in private care giving for a family friend and that made me realize how much I love helping people,” Chloe shares. “I was like, ‘Okay, I love doing this.’ But I knew I could only go so far with caregiving.”

Hoping for the next one-off job wasn’t going to be enough, so Chloe began to research healthcare career options. But she was hesitant. She knew she couldn’t take years out of her life to study. She pressed forward and continued to search for programs that might help her break into health care more quickly. When she stumbled upon the healthcare programs at �鶹����’s Lacey, WA, she thought she had the solution.

“When I compared schools, �鶹���� stood out. They told me I could complete my Medical Assistant certification in as few as 10 months, along with an externship for real-world experience,” Chloe says. “Other programs were a year or longer, so Charter just made more sense for me.”

A Hands-On Education and a Sense of Community at �鶹����

Chloe describes her time at �鶹���� as one of the best educational experiences she’s ever had. The instructors, classmates, and the hands-on labs all helped her gain the experience she needed to thrive. She found such success in her certificate program that she went on to attain an associate degree in Medical Assistant with Charter.

“The community at Charter is so awesome. Everyone was super helpful in the classroom and the labs,” Chloe explains. “We built real friendships. Even now, some of my classmates call me ‘Auntie,’ and I call their kids my nieces and nephews,” she laughs.

Chloe says that her instructors were also a big part of her success. She describes them as always willing to help and further explain topics if any student needed more assistance.

“They always reminded us that we’re in the medical field dealing with real people,” she explains. “They let us know now was the time to get any questions answered so we don’t make mistakes in the clinic.”

With classroom instruction and lab practice behind her, Chloe completed her externship at in the gastroenterology department and was offered a job immediately after. While she was grateful for the opportunity, she realized that specialty care didn’t give her the hands-on patient interactions that she craved. Chloe was ready to take the experience she gained to a new clinic that better fit her dream.

A Network That Works for You

With the help of �鶹����’s Career Services department, Chloe connected with a local health clinic and landed a job. And when she got there, she was met with a pleasant surprise!

“The person who posted the job was actually a Charter graduate who’d been working at the local health clinic for a few years,” Chloe says. “I reached out, and we connected instantly. He was a huge help in getting me that Medical Assistant role.”

That sense of community and shared purpose was something Chloe felt from the moment she started at �鶹����, all the way through her program, and right to the doorsteps of her new job.

Lessons That Last a Lifetime

Now working at the local health clinic, Chloe continues to draw on the skills and values she developed at Charter.

“One of the biggest lessons I learned is to always ask questions,” says Chloe. “Our instructors made it clear: This is health care. You’re dealing with people’s lives. There’s no shame in double-checking or asking for help.”

Chloe even takes the time to educate new employees at her clinic, checking in on their progress, seeing if they have questions, and just asking about their overall well-being. She credits Charter for fueling her desire to learn new skills at her job, and to anyone considering the medical assistant field, she has this to say:

“Go for it. Don’t overthink it. Don’t hesitate. There’s a reason you’re looking. Just go for it. You’ve got this,” says Chloe.

Do you want to hear more about our amazing Medical Assistant graduates and instructors? Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form to learn more!

Are you ready to test the waters of online learning? What a great idea! An advanced education can help you advance your career. And ELearning makes attaining that education more convenient and doable than ever. But before you jump in, you need to recognize the challenges you might face as an adult learner so you can overcome them.

1)Computer Literacy

·���������������� What it is

o   In today’s digital world, computer literacy is more than just the ability to power up a computer and get online. You need to understand a bit about your individual hardware and how it connects to intranets and the internet. More importantly, you need to master the software you’ll use in your online program and then out in the real world.

·���������������� What to do

o   If you’re going to take an online course, you’ll need to embrace a bit of technology. Start by taking intro computer classes at a local school or community center to become familiar with the basics. Use email and practice uploading and downloading files. Try out a couple of programs from the Microsoft Suite like Word or PowerPoint. Even playing games online is a good way to ease into technology.

2)Technology Bias

·���������������� What it is

o   If you learned to navigate the basics of technology on an Apple computer, it may be really difficult to transition to a PC. That difficulty to switch from one brand or technology to another is a bias that’s common with adult learners.

·���������������� What to do

o   Do some research before you begin your online course. Don’t panic about what hardware and software you’ll be expected to use until you know what they are. If you’re not familiar with a platform, find out what features it has. It’s often less about a specific platform and more about general tasks you’d need to do in any online learning. Learn how to save and upload documents, and make entries on forums and discussion boards.

3)Online Anxiety

·���������������� What it is

o   Whether you’re anxious about learning online or just scared about going back to school, anxiety is real—and pretty normal. Trying something new, even when you know it’s the right thing to do for you and your career, can be intimidating.

·���������������� What to do

o   Make a plan. Explore your options. And ask lots of questions. The more you know about online learning and the different kinds of programs that are offered, the more confident you’ll be about your decision.

At �鶹����, we know online courses can be a little scary. That’s why we’re here to help, with online programs and on-campus support. If you’re ready to dive into ELearning, check out the �鶹���� online programs in business, healthcare, information technology, paralegal studies, and applied technologies.

Sherry Martz was “soul searching” after a rough divorce left her looking for a new path for her life. She knew she needed a career to support herself but didn’t want to settle for something unfulfilling.

“I was looking for a way to feel wanted, and appreciated, and effective,” said Sherry. “I’d always wanted to do something in the medical field.”

So Sherry enrolled in the Medical Assistant Program at �鶹����’s Anchorage campus. And it changed her life. Not only did it lead her to a career she loves, but it gave her real purpose. And the people at her new job supported her as her life fell further apart –when she lost her only daughter to domestic violence.

“They were wonderful,” Sherry says of the people at the . They supported her emotionally and allowed her the time she needed to watch her daughter’s killer brought through the legal system. And Sherry had a place to go to where she could truly help others.

“I love it here,” said Sherry, “and I love what I do.”

The center uses a holistic approach to healing. They look at individuals instead of just illnesses and focus on the root cause of whatever a patient might be suffering from. Then they use alternative and natural treatments.

“We treat everything but do it on a natural level,” said Sherry. “A patient might come in with hypertension and instead of immediately giving them medications we try to find the source behind it. We don’t just put a band aide on it. We ask –why are you hypertensive?”

Sherry says that whether she’s conducting hydrotherapy treatments, assisting with acupuncture or helping out in the front office, the work is rewarding and she is always learning. When she started at �鶹����, she worked really hard. She never missed a class and spent extra time in the labs working on blood draws until she perfected her technique.

“I did this in my 40s,” said Sherry. “Most of my classmates were younger and I don’t know if they had the same dedication, but I loved it. I thought it was great.”

Now she’s working hard for others, always trying to improve her own skills and what she’s able to provide to her patients.

“I’m always learning new things. Dr. Young teaches me on a daily basis,” said Sherry, “and I’m constantly trying to stay fresh on alternative treatments and Chinese medicine.”

To say she’s been through adversity is an understatement. Sherry knows that nothing she can do will ever bring back her daughter, but she says she does good things in her name. She set up a high school scholarship, is an advocate and frequent spokesperson against domestic violence, and she has dedicated her life to helping others. When asked what’s next for her career, Sherry says simply: “I’m going to stay here forever.”

Zach Wilson had had a few jobs, doing a “little of this and a little of that” when he landed at an HVAC company as an apprentice. Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration seemed like solid, dependable work. It was the kind of career that he believed could support his family, the kind of work he could be proud of.

It was clear early-on, though, that jumping right into the work wasn’t the best path. He needed HVAC/R career training to understand all the technical aspects of the job. That’s when he enrolled at �鶹���� in Pasco, WA. He learned how to install, maintain and troubleshoot a variety of HVAC/R systems.

“I really liked the hands-on way they taught.” said Zach, “and I still use my books from school on the job.”

With a solid skill set, Zach was able to find employment as a service technician with local contractors to really hone his HVAC/R skills. He also went on to earn his Associate of Applied Science in Applied Technology Degree from �鶹����. The online program helped him understand the business end of the industry more fully. He learned all about professionalism in the field, including basic business concepts, project management and how to provide excellent customer service.

It’s a good thing, too. Because today Zach runs his own company!

Zach opened in January in Umatilla, OR, and feels like he’s already filling a need. It’s been a busy winter. According to Zach, he “can work on any brand” of system that is out there, and being able to service brands that others cannot really sets him apart.

Zach loves the career he’s chosen and says that �鶹���� helped him gain the skills and knowledge he needed. He says he’d advise students just setting out to really pay attention in class.

“When you’re out in the field, you need to take what you’ve learned but then put everything together on your own to diagnose the problem and the solution,” said Zach.

If you’re ready to set on your own career path, check out all that �鶹���� has to offer you. We have career-focused programs in business, health care, hospitality, information technology, veterinary assistant and some trades. Which one is right for you?

Well-educated in her home country of Ukraine, Natalya Fomina knew she needed more training if she was going to find success in the United States. She enrolled in a university’s online program, but says that it didn’t provide enough individualized attention and support. It was also slow-going.

“It took me less time to complete my entire associate’s degree at �鶹���� than it took me to take just six classes at university,” said Natalya, “and the instructors were supportive and encouraging and helpful at Charter.”

Natalya says her instructors at �鶹���� were great. They cared about her and kept in touch with her even after she completed her program.

“When I got a promotion, my instructor was the first person I called,” said Natalya, “not my husband or my kids. And she told me she was proud of me.”

Natalya acknowledges that her program wasn’t “easy.” There were times she’d be up until 2:00 in the morning doing homework that was due that day, times she even broke down in tears. But she said she didn’t give up.

Today, Natalya works for the State of Alaska as an accountant technician. She says she does a little bit of everything. She handles audits and contracts, budgets and billings.

“I don’t like my job,” said Natalya, “I love it!”

Natalya also knows that her hard work wasn’t lost on her family. Her husband was supportive throughout and is very proud of her, and she feels like she set a good example for her children, who all went on to college.

“Sometimes what we tell kids, they forget,” said Natalya, “but they always remember what they see. They saw what I was doing, how hard I was working.”

Natalya says they also saw the results. She’s working at a job she loves and still looking to the future. She is currently studying for her Certified Public Accountant exam. She wants to continue to work for the State but hopes to advance her career as she advances her skills and training.

For those considering a �鶹���� education, Natalya says it’s definitely worth it, but like anything worthwhile, it takes effort and perseverance.

“Don’t give up,” she said, “your life will be better.”

If you’re ready to change your life for the better, start with an education. �鶹���� has programs in business, health care, information technology, veterinary assistance and some trades. Are you ready to change YOUR life? Start here.