What if your first diploma isn’t an ending, but the start of everything you hoped a career could be? We dive into the real work of turning ambition into action—setting goals that point past a paycheck, finding the specialty that fits, and building a support system that shows up when life gets loud.
Marie Aveline, Program Chair for Ross’s Medical Assistant Program, breaks down how early goal-setting and “sampling” different clinical areas help students discover where they thrive. She lifts the curtain on the culture her team protects: instructors who are approachable, honest about what they don’t know, and willing to meet students whenever they need help.
Kay’s story is the pulse of the episode. From homelessness and losing everything in storage to landing her first MA role and stepping into an instructor position, she shows how purpose fuels persistence. A patient’s smile became her turning point; a network of mentors turned setbacks into steps.
We explore how to shift from “I graduated” to “I’m growing”—stacking micro-credentials, embracing continuing education, and seeing healthcare as a lifetime of learning. Expect practical takeaways: build a simple roadmap, assemble a small support bench, and commit to consistent, one-hour blocks that compound into confidence. If plan A fails, go to plan B through Z; momentum beats perfection.
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