Lynnae spent years working at her local grocery store, believing it might be her only career path. However, since she was a little girl, she had bigger dreams of working in the medical field.
She decided to take the bold step of starting the Medical Assistant Program at her local technical college. Though excited, Lynnae didn’t know what to expect when starting this new chapter of her life. Her instructor even remarked that she looked like “a deer in headlights” on her first day—a memory she now laughs about.
Working with the finance department at the college, she was connected to our Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act WIOA program to get a little extra support to ensure her success. After a few weeks into the semester, Lynnae was in a steady routine and was doing well. But when a negative situation occurred in class, she made the tough decision to drop out, take the semester off, and was ultimately unsure if she would ever return.
Throughout this period, Lynnae was upset and felt defeated. Thankfully, her WIOA team was there for her to lean on. With a little bit of encouragement, Lynnae got right back up, brushed herself off, and worked with her WIOA case manager on exploring what her next steps might be. Fortunately, she quickly discovered that the college addressed the issue, and Lynnae re-enrolled the following semester.
Now driven by her dream, Lynnae was determined and motivated to complete college—and she achieved it! Her graduation was a truly special occasion. Family members traveled from other states to surprise her and were excited to see her achieve her dream. She even treated herself with a professional nails and hair pampering session, so she’d feel both radiant and proud as she walked across the stage.
With her degree in hand, Lynnae’s new dream was to find a job where she could apply her education. Not even a month after graduation, Lynnae used her revamped resume to apply for positions now open to her. In fact, we’re thrilled to report that she just secured a job at her local clinic and will be earning $5.37 more per hour than her previous job at the grocery store!
Not only is this new career in the a field that she’s passionate about, Lynnae is also thrilled to have health insurance options for the first time in her life, a significant milestone for her after solely relying on BadgerCare for years. To her, this felt like a major game changer!
Lynnae’s perseverance and hard work have truly paid off, marking another dream fulfilled, but that’s not the end for her. She now has her dream set on purchasing a vehicle now that she’s earning more, a Nissan Altima to be exact. The future looks bright for Lynnae, and her journey continues to inspire!
Congratulations, Lynnae! We can’t wait to see what you do next.
See how our WIOA program can support you to achieve your career goals.
