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CAREER CENTER |
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Seven scholarship awarded to nursing students
Students in the Certified Nursing Assistant Class: Front Row: Katie Phelan and Kim Secunda. Back row: Cheyenne Mauldin, Maya Kruger, Winifred Adams, Irene Edberg, instructor Karla Poullion and Winil Samarasinghe. posted 03/22/03
Not pictured are the sponsors for the training program. Each of the organizations involved played a key role in putting together this package.
The Alliance is a partnership of the Workforce Development Council, educators and healthcare employers coming together to solve the current and future healthcare worker shortage in Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan counties’ medical facilities. There is an increasing shortage of health care professionals and this training will be an excellent entry into a promising career field. Nurses’ Assistants earn $10 - $12 per hour and there are often signing bonuses. Completing this class will also provide an excellent foundation for further training. Graduates of this class in prior years are all either working as Nurses’ Assistants, being trained as Registered Nurses, or in medical school. Another Career Center success story
posted 03/22/03
Although Aaron has not yet made a final decision about what he wants to do next, he is considering the military. Single mom finds calling through career center
posted 01/05/02
Knych, the coordinator of the San Juan County Career Center said, "Robin had to overcome many obstacles in order to get to her goal. It is never easy for a single mother, but Robin didn't give up. She persevered. That's why I nominated her for the award." ; The annual award is given to a person who has achieved their career or education goals working through one of the career centers in the Northwest Workforce Development Council region of Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan County. The award is given to an individual who has overcome extraordinary difficulties to achieve their goals. "As a single mom, Robin knew it would be difficult for her to find work, but she had the added obstacle that her youngest child was under a year old. Many people would have given up, but not Robin," said Knych. When the Career Center located a package delivery job for Robin, she wanted to take the job but child care was a problem. While Knych advertised for potential babysitters and tried to find one that would take a baby, DeLaZerda solved her own problem. "I called to give her the bad news that I couldn't find a sitter. But Robin had solved her own problem," said Knych. Since much of the delivery time was spent on the ferry, DeLaZerda took matters into her own hands. She strapped the baby into a car seat in the van and then put him into a papoose holder on her chest when she got out of the van to deliver a package. This allowed her to have quality time with the baby on the ferry and solved the daycare problem. "Her employer, who was skeptical at first, was totally convinced after a few weeks, he was impressed with Robin's drive and determination," said Knych. According to Knych that is only one example of DeLaZerda's willingness to improve the circumstances for both herself and her family. When the opportunity to take the civil service exam arose, Knych encouraged her to take the test. "Robin didn't want to, but I really insisted. " said Knych. "Her career interest scores showed that she would do well in law enforcement. I just knew that was the right job for her." It was several months before Robin was offered the job. By that time, her youngest child was old enough to leave with a sitter. There's a lesson to learn from her story said Knych. "Her experience teaches us that you must keep your eye on the goal and be patient. Our goals are not always instantly attainable." DeLaZerda was unable to attend the ceremony due to family obligations. She wrote the following letter to be read at the ceremony. Letter Robin DeLaZerda wrote for the award ceremonyA little more than a year ago, I moved onto the island. I was leaving a bad situation and hoping to find a new beginning. I am a single mother of three children. I needed a job and needed one that I could support my children with. The twist; I had no professional experience and very little work experience. My self-esteem was little to one, I feared even the phone call it took to set up an interview. I did find myself making one phone call that has changed my life. I made a call to Minnie Knych , at that time her program was called PIC. We set up an appointment to meet; she had to give up her lunch hour to meet with me because that was the only time I had someone to watch my children. OUr first meeting was just an hour of her asking me questions that I didn't know the answers to. "What kind of work would you be interested in." "What experience do you have?" These are the things I did not know how to answer. So I gave her the rundown on my situation and we scheduled another appointment. A week later, our second appointment, I realized; here sat a woman that was more than she seemed. She and I talked about anything and everything. I later realized she was getting to know me. Now mind you, I walked into her office in my "better" looking jeans and the nicest t-shirt I had at the time, yet she treated me like the other women walking in with dress clothes on. After our second appointment, I realized (whether Minnie had or not) that I had made my first friend on the island. Shortly after our second appointment, I had made a phone call to my first employer. she had set up an interview for me with Don Forbush, who became my second friend on the island. I became employed by Don's Delivery Service delivering FedEx. I was fine with that job and was making ends meet. I felt I could survive with the income and figured with the skills that I had it was the "best" I could probably do. Minnie saw more potential in my than I had seen in myself. She informed me of any potential job that she felt might interest me, and due to fear of change, I usually declined. Minnie then notified me of a county job that she felt would be of interest to me and that I would be a perfect candidate for. I fearfully took the information unsure if I wanted to venture into new ground. It was a job I was highly interested in , but felt my potential was not enough to qualify. She kept in touch and picked up the application for me, she put in a good word for me (and in our community, a good word from Minnie Knych is a great thing to have on your side.) I reluctantly took the civil service exam, prepared for failure. Needless to say I came in overall as third on the list for hiring and was hired second to fill the position. I am currently employed as an E911 operator. Everyday that I put on my uniform I give a silent "thank you" to Minnie. I am now in a position that I do not have to pinch pennies to make ends meet, I love what I do and my children are proud of me also. I truly owe my current situation to Minnie Knych, as she became a true friend and did not let me settle. Other than helping me with a great job and better life (financially), she has helped me remember who I am and find potential and self-esteem I had all along but had it hidden. Now I am being informed that I am receiving an award. I am truly astonished at the fact Minnie has continued to remind me that I have made drastic changes in my life. She calls me to see how things are in my life, she offered to help if I needed assistance in purchasing uniforms, and will often call just to say "Hello." If anyone deserves an award it is the woman who has made such an impact on my life, Minnie Knych. So my personal thanks goes out to a marvelous person, Minnie Knych. I must thank The Workforce Development Council for hiring Minnie and seeing the potential she has to those of us who utilize her service. I truly feel if she could make such a difference in my life, she can help anyone to better his or her life. Robin DeLaZerda |
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