Succeeding as a Working Parent

Transcript

Our next student is a re-careering married mother of three, named Jennifer who attends Paradise Valley Community College. Recently, she said goodbye to life as an executive assistant. Now, she’s gonna share with us her desire to go into nursing and how she’s going about it at PVCC. Okay Jennifer, take us through your story.

– Thanks, Alex. Hello, everyone. I grew up in the Seattle area and moved out to Phoenix at the beginning of 2019 with my husband and three kids who are 15, 4 and 2. I’m currently re-careering after spending the past eight years in executive type assistant roles, I’m finally pursuing my dream of becoming a nurse. Since my first child was born with a cleft lip and palate I particularly wanted to work in the NICU department, but I simply didn’t have the resources back in Washington state. That all changed once I heard about Paradise Valley Community College. As a mother and wife, I needed a college that wasn’t just affordable but one that would help me succeed as a working parent. And that’s exactly what I found here. Shortly after the pandemic began in 2020, I felt a need to check back into my options pursuing a career change. I reached out to a mom’s community board on Facebook and heard about Maricopa’s amazing nursing program. I contacted a few colleges in my area, but Paradise Valley was the most responsive. Their counselors were calling me and helping me that same day, setting up a plan that worked best for me. It’s been a year since that initial phone call and I’m on my last prerequisite class. Their online curriculum has made it possible for me to learn while working and taking care of my children. College has always been a big priority to me. I graduated with a generic business degree through an online program, but I felt like their curriculum was not well structured. Paradise Valley’s curriculum just feels different. My professors actually care about my goals and everything was built to help keep me on track. The nursing program is coming up for me in just a few months and because of Paradise Valley’s prerequisite classes, I know I have the foundation down for what’s next. Because of this amazing Community College, I’m finally pursuing my goal and will be working in the NICU department within the next couple of years. Thank you. Back to you, Alex.

– Wow, Jennifer, that is a phenomenal story. Your goal to work in neonatal intensive care is admirable and heartwarming. And it’s awesome that PVCC is helping you make steady progress in your goal. And we’ve got no doubt you will reach it. Good luck and keep up the hard work.