Ashleigh T., from Richmond, Va., struggled to find stability in her life. Her father left her and her 10 siblings when she was young, and she found herself moving between a number of places during her teenage years, including her friends’ couches, hotels, and homeless shelters. She didn’t have any job skills or a place she considered home, so when she learned about Job Corps, she decided to enroll.
When she arrived at the Blue Ridge center, Ashleigh decided to pursue Clinical Medical Assistant training area. Within a year, Ashleigh obtained certifications in Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, Basic Life Support and First Aid, Clinical Medical Assistant, Electrocardiogram Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, and Patient Care Technician.
After graduating in 2017, Ashleigh returned to Richmond and is working as a phlebotomist at the Octapharma Plasma Center and Chippenham Hospital. In her spare time, she is taking online classes at Argosy College, and her goal is to become a substance abuse counselor.
“This is my true passion,” Ashleigh said. “I’m still hoping to see my father again, and I want to be equipped with knowledge to help bring him away from drug use.”
Graduated from Job Corps in: June 2017 Employer: Octapharma Plasma Center and Chippenham Hospital Hometown: Richmond, Va. Submitted by: Center Newsletter Notes:
March-May 2018 batch