Mom of 5 winding along on her educational path!

Thank you for your time; my name is Jessica, and my family calls me Maj.

I really need a little support to continue on my educational path. I will enroll in Bryan University-CCA program and become certified in billing & coding. An 11-month course I will complete remotely with the opportunity to become remotely employed at entry level by this summer prior to completing my certification. The job skills I will receive will provide me with an ever-growing career that will financially propel me further along my educational pathway to becoming a Registered Nurse in Labor & Delivery, helping people out, and advocating for the patient.

My husband and I have been together since High School. We had our first son when I was 17. Although I graduated early, in October of my Senior year, attempting full-time college and part-time employment with an 8-month-old was too much. Without a career goal, higher education was set to the side in turn for more realistic demands! Jump ahead 15 years and three sons later; I am refused admittance to the delivery department of our 4th son, Mr. 10lb 2oz. Charlie Fast and my husband must deliver our baby on the side of the road resulting in our newborn receiving 2nd-degree burns from hot packs placed on his little body by the paramedics. While might I add, my husband is suffering from a recently broken and slung clavicle. This entire experience was so traumatic I made a vow to make a change in medical care. I wanted maternity cases to be viewed other than just a member number and a timeline and actually viewed as the delivery of life, as the formation of a family!

I had no idea how to make the change I was determined to, from my position as a retail manager, pregnant with our 5th son. However, as my eldest son was completing High School and applying for colleges, he taught me about FAFSA! I was reintroduced to the opportunity to reach for higher education and enrolled in our community college. When the pandemic occurred, my goal of transferring into our regional nursing program was almost delayed; however, I researched, sought and enrolled with other California community colleges with available online courses and continued my studies.

Graduating in May 2021 with 2 Associates Degrees and applying to the Nursing program was a miraculous achievement; having four children attending online school with a two-year-old "helping" was its very own task to master; thank you to our full-time Dad! I was accepted to the Dominican University. However, not the nursing program, as they required a GPA of 3.5, and I had a 3.45- It was not the path for me.

My path made a sudden detour with an eviction notice. The property owner of our home wanted to sell for an easy $1.2 million, and although never late on rent, they gave us 60 days' notice on October 15, 2021. Last year's holiday season was a flash of packing and preparing to find a new career path. I chose to stay on the path with my community college, and in January 2022 started working towards a Medical Assistant Certificate, Administrative and Clinical. My plan was to be enrolled in the externship Spring semester of 2023. On track and ready this November to sign up for externship courses, only to learn the college had adjusted course availability options. I will be forced to wait an entire year until the following Fall of 2023 semester to continue towards my Medical Assisting certification. I will need to continue and will not stop until I reach my goal of advocating for the family. Facing another winding way along my path, I was not anticipating another challenge, and I thought I was finally reaching the goal. But as frustrated as I was, I stayed open to see why this was unfolding and what I was supposed to do next. I understand this opportunity will be more beneficial in the end.

I appreciate your time reading about my moments along this educational pathway, and thank you greatly for your consideration in assisting me along this path.