Growing up, Emma took care of people. First, it was her grandmother diagnosed with stomach cancer who needed extra support. Then, other family members received troubling health news that emphasized in Emma’s mind the pivotal role of nurses, care teams and doctors.
She shared that it was the nurses she encountered in her grandmother’s care that make all the difference in a family’s experience within the healthcare system.
In high school, she described herself as a “bad” kid. No such thing – but it took a couple of school transfers to land at SOS Learning Labs. This program connected her with an online high school and customized resources. She graduated high school proudly.
Following high school, Emma cleaned vacation rentals, which she still does on the weekends. But it’s not enough to get what she wanted: a car, her own home, a dog and of course, help her family financially.
When she decided to ask for help, it led her to Northwest Michigan Works! where she met Shirl Martin, our Student Navigator.
🫶 Asking for Help
When reflecting back on her formative years, Emma recalls being taught to be self-sufficient. Not to expect help from others and to be skeptical of generosity.
After gaining the support she needed to graduate high school, Emma recognized there are many people and organizations who are willing to help if you ask.
Still, she wasn’t sure she would get a meaningful response.
What struck her is that Shirl actually listened to her, and she was invested in her for the long-haul.
Shirl shared what she tells all of her prospective students:
“Even if 99% of you doesn’t think continuing education is right for you, give me a 1% chance to work with you.”
-Shirl
🩺 Path into Healthcare: Medical Assistant Certification
At the start of their advising relationship, Shirl helped Emma determine her ultimate career goal: help take care of others and blend her passion to pave an appropriate career pathway.
They created a plan:
- Medical Assistant online program via NMC Extended Education & Training
- Employer placement
- Nursing school
Today, Emma has completed her Medical Assistant program, which she firmly believes will help her become a more empathetic nurse. She is working at a local hospital where she appreciates the financial incentives, additional on-the-job training and doing what she is passionate about: helping people.
💖 Emma’s Advice for Prospective Students
She was surprised by how some parts of her post-high school education were easier than she thought. By getting educated in bite-sized pieces with employer backing, she was able to uplift other areas in her life:
- Get a driver’s license
- Earn money to purchase a car
- Get her own place to live
- Find the right group of people to support her
Ultimately, she knows that she is genuinely being called to work in healthcare and without this passion, the financial incentives of working in the field wouldn’t be enough.
👩⚕️ On the Road to Nursing School
Emma never fathomed that she could afford nursing school. In her experience and within her family, working multiple jobs is a way of life to make ends meet.
But Emma figured if she could find a career that lets her work one job, it’s the definition of “work smarter, not harder.”
While taking classes and working is not easy, there are funding options and ways to get certifications to earn more money along the way.
Plus, it wasn’t a linear path: a lot of life happened to get where she is today, yet when she focuses on what she needs, the path becomes that much clearer.
Once told that she was “bad at school,” Emma found the path right for her and became the first person in her family to attend college.
We asked her: was it worth it?
“Yes, absolutely.”