AGE: 23
CAREER PATH: Healthcare
Andrea had recently graduated from college and was trying to figure out her next steps. She had always been interested in the medical field but didn’t know what to do or where to start. Luckily, she found YJC.
“I am the first in my family to graduate high school and let alone college, so I always had to support myself and learn how to do everything on my own,” Andrea shares. “I was very fortunate to become a part of YJC because I was no longer alone in my journey. YJC offered me the guidance and support that I needed and became essential to where I am at today. ”
After participating in YJC’s workforce readiness training and working with her coach to refine her resume, Andrea was able to secure a paid work experience as a pharmacy technician intern at Walgreens. YJC ensured her success by providing work clothes and transportation assistance. Andrea also enrolled in several healthcare trainings to strengthen her skillset and took advantage of free supportive resources from YJC like books, uniforms, shoes, and a medical scrub watch.
Right alongside her every step of the way was her coach Destanee. “My coach is always willing to help and is very supportive of my accomplishments,” says Andrea. “I can always connect with her and ask questions about anything I am unsure of. She lets me know of new and upcoming opportunities that she knows will be beneficial and a good advantage for me to be a part of. My coach has been a great support system in my journey to becoming a health professional, and I am very grateful to her and what she has done to help me.”
Andrea has put all this support to good use and created several successes for herself: She obtained her pharmacy tech license and became a certified patient care technician (PCT), which includes three certifications (CNA, phlebotomy, and EKG).
“Where I currently find myself is what I had hoped for when I was younger,” she says. “After graduating college, I was unsure of many things, whether I picked the right major or career of interest. My favorite thing about my experience so far and my future job as a PCT is that I have become certain that it still is the right decision. I learned that I do belong in healthcare, and I enjoy learning more about patient care everyday. YJC and their help played a very important role in my sense of security and confidence that I can work in the healthcare field. ”
Her plans for the future include building a long-lasting career and, in service of getting there, possibly joining a healthcare mentorship program. We’ll be by her side making sure she has whatever she needs to make that a reality.
Andrea’s parting words? “I would advise other young people to join YJC. It is a great support system that truly focuses on helping you achieve your goals. YJC offers help in many different areas and can help you with what you need. Being a part of YJC will be very rewarding and beneficial to you, just how it has been for me.”
