melissa"I wasn’t supposed to be one of the one’s who madeit. At the age of sixteen, when I gave birth to myfirst child, my family and my society had destinedme to be a welfare mother with five kids, stuck inthe ghetto. I was supposed to have dropped out ofhigh school."Shortly after my son turned one, I moved frommy hometown of Utica, New York to Providence,Rhode Island. I was seventeen and didn’t knowanyone, but I registered myself for school, got anapartment, and got on welfare. My senior year inhigh school found me with child again. So hereI was, a teenage mother, on welfare, with anotherbaby on the way. It was starting to look like I wasfulfilling the prophecy my family had foretold."But I did not drop out of school and made plansto go to college. Despite all of the struggles Ifaced as a poverty-stricken teen mom, I graduatedfrom Rhode Island College, cum laude, with twobachelor’s degrees in four years time."After teaching visual art for seven years, my life’spath started to lead me in another direction. Imoved on to the next challenge: another degreeand another career option. I started attending TheArt Institute of Phoenix two and half years ago asa Graphic Design student. It had been a struggle,trying to balance a home life, a teaching careerand an academic career, but I succeeded. At TheArt Institute, as I developed my skills as a graphicdesigner, I became a better teacher.djamina"I enrolled at West Coast University for two reasons: it was an accelerated 18-month programwith excellent instructors, and I liked the location – Anaheim – because it is not crowded andchaotic. I took the program one day at a time, studied regularly: and thankfully had greatfriends who helped me with school, clinical rotations and studying. My experience at WCUwas tough, but it was worth it because I know that all the hard work helped me prepare tobe an excellent nurse."WCU was essential in giving me the critical thinking and patient care skills to prepare meto work as an RN after completing the program. I am now a nursing instructor; I taughtLVN school Nursing Fundamentals (Level 1) and Med Surge (Level 2) and will be teachingOB and peds, as well. Everything that I learned at WCU assists me with my lectures as aninstructor. I enjoy teaching because, just as my instructors at WCU helped me pass myNCLEX and become an RN, I am so thankful that I can use my talents, medical backgroundand nursing knowledge to now help others pass their tests and achieve their goals to notonly be wonderful nurses, but really love and serve people and make a difference in ourcommunity. While a great salary and benefits are nice incentives, I’m happy to be teachingbecause it has been my passion since I was very young. When you do something that youreally love, no matter what challenges you face, overall you’re still happy. I am happy each dayI go to work. Life has become so exciting and beautiful!" ◄"Initially, I had signed up for the Bachelor’sdegree program, but ultimately graduated with anAssociate’s degree of Applied Science in GraphicDesign. My instructors had been incrediblyknowledgeable and supportive and I would like totake the time to thank everyone at The Art Instituteof Phoenix who helped me to succeed in earningmy degree."My Career Advisor, Ginny Lopez, sent me a joblead that fit my needs at that point in my life andI obtained a job as a Creative Director at No LimitPublishing Group. I got hired before I graduated!The Art Institute prepared me extremely well inorder to take on this fantastic new career. I am butone of the many Art Institute of Phoenix alumniwho have succeeded." ◄Melissa TaurisanoThe Art Institute of PhoenixGraphic Design2010Djamina HandojoWest Coast UniversityNursing WHAT'S AT RISK? | 60
shaunBefore Shaun Robinson enrolled in the Practical Nursing program at Brown MackieCollege – South Bend in 2005, he was a journeyman of sorts. He worked as an EMTfor two years, helped schoolchildren with disabilities at an elementary school, wasemployed at a Subway restaurant, and also dabbled in construction. Of course, noneof that includes the time he spends helping his grandparents on their farm every year.Needless to say, Shaun, who recently passed the Indiana State Boards to become aLicensed Practical Nurse (LPN), has never been short on work.For the last eight months, Shaun has been a charge nurse with American SeniorCommunities at Riverside Village. He often helps with the Skilled Unit, which providescare for those recovering from strokes, heart attacks and other disabilities related toaging. Most recently, he was awarded the Employee of the Year honor, something thatis not surprising considering the success Shaun experienced while in school.However, things did not always come this easily. Before enrolling at Brown MackieCollege – South Bend, Shaun worked a variety of jobs and, in his own words, “wasready for a change.” Brown Mackie College offers month-to-month classes and wasclose enough to Shaun’s home that he could continue to work and successfully balancehis personal, professional and academic goals. He credits instructors like DestinyCampbell, Nancy DeRosa and Sandra Wysocki with providing a column of supportthat allowed him to excel. In fact, Shaun recalls that, “When times at school becamerough, it was amazing to see how your classmates and instructors came together.”Shaun also managed to find enough time between his studies and his job to help outwith a volleyball team in nearby Walkerton, Ind.Prior to Shaun’s graduation in 2006 from Brown Mackie College – South Bend witha degree in Practical Nursing, he found himself searching. “I was trying to find a jobthat I enjoyed and wanted to do for the rest of my life.” And after nearly a year atRiverside Village, Shaun says, “I enjoy what I am doing,” and because of his trainingat Brown Mackie College, “I feel that I can do my job successfully,” something he’sproving sooner rather than later. ◄Shaun RobinsonBrown Mackie College – South BendPractical Nursing www.CareerCollegeCentral.com | 61
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