When we first met Barbara, she was navigating the devastating loss of her spouse, who for a long time had been the primary provider in their household after they were forced to sell their farm several years earlier.
At first, Barbara wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. She knew she needed to work on her computer skills, but she was also looking for a job that would provide a steady income and was close to home. She decided to make a visit to her local job center where she connected and enrolled into our Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) program.
During her first few meetings with her WIOA Career Planner, Bob, they discovered that Barbara had a strong interest in customer service and office work. They explored various programs at Northcentral Technical College (NTC) and met with advisors to find a good match for her desired plans.
Barbara initially enrolled in their Medical Coding Specialist program, believing it would be a good fit and would provide her with the long-term skills she needed for the jobs she wanted. However, after attending a few classes, she felt somewhat frustrated with her progress.
With a little coaxing by Bob, she decided to try a different route and applied for assistance through the DVR program. She met a DVR counselor, and after some further discussions with the NTC advisor and Bob, she decided to switch to the Medical Office Specialist program and enrolled for the next Fall.
But the next fall brought many challenges for Barbara. She had to make the tough decision to sell her home as she could now no longer afford the payments. Unsure at first if it was the right choice, she knew her daughter lived in a neighboring city and could benefit from having Barbara live nearby. Barbara decided to look for a small apartment in that area.
Thanks to the online format of her classes, Barbara completed her training through NTC entirely online. She really excelled in her courses, maintaining a 4.00 GPA and earning a spot on the President’s List each term.
The following spring, Barbara graduated with High Honors and proudly walked at the commencement ceremony. She was even surprised to find out that she was selected as the Outstanding Graduate for the Medical Office Specialist program.
Barbara is a humble, caring individual who is deeply appreciative of the support she received. She would like to extend her heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped her achieve her goals. Hear a heartfelt message from Barbara in the video below.
Even though she’s still on her journey to getting her dream job, we’re confident that her perfect fit is right around the corner.
