“Success is a journey not a destination. The doing is usually more important than the outcome.”-Arthur Ashe.
We often think about success as an end goal, yet it is good to be reminded that success is more of a journey rather than just an end result. For years, Southwest Regional Adult Education (SRAE) has walked alongside many adult learners as a tool and resource helping them achieve their educational goals and overcome barriers along the way. We’ve learned a lot about what success looks like from those adult learners we have worked with, and we want to continue that journey with others. With that thought in mind, it is my pleasure to introduce our “Success Series” featuring an interview with Cassandra Creech of Honaker, Virginia.
Cassandra had attended community college but had been unable to finish a degree in early childhood education. She had taught Early Head Start for six years before losing her job. She eventually came to a point where she wanted a change in career direction.
One day while Cassandra was working at a convenience store in her community, a friend at work told her about a pharmacy technician program that was being offered by SRAE. Cassandra commented, “The program seemed to be a light at the end of a long black tunnel for me. I felt like I could have a new start in life.”
Cassandra applied for admission to the pharmacy technician training program and was accepted. The program began in September 2019 and ran through December 2019. During the first two weeks of the program, Cassandra worked two jobs and attended classes three nights a week.
When asked about challenges she encountered, Cassandra replied, “I was a single mom who worked long hours. Some days I felt like I didn’t know if I could make it. Some days I was so tired, I could barely hold my head up.” Cassandra then made the necessary change to working only one job at CVS Pharmacy as a pharmacy technician trainee. Cassandra said she could not have continued without the help of her mother and the flexibility she received at work.
As an adult learner, Cassandra found that everyone she encountered in the program helped to build her confidence level. She had once thought that it would be too difficult to go back to school, but she quickly experienced success in her classes.
In addition to completing the standard coursework of the program, Cassandra completed REVIVE! Training, the Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education (OONE) program for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and she earned both a Microsoft Digital Literacy Certificate and a platinum-level National Career Readiness Certificate. Cassandra passed the national Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE®) on December 30, 2019 and received her official certification on January 8, 2020.
Cassandra felt that one of the best aspects of the program was how caring and helpful the staff was with the purpose of ensuring student success. She commented, “I felt very well-prepared for the certification exam. I felt confident that I would be ok. Without the instruction that I had, there is no way I could have passed it.”
When asked about a valuable lesson learned in the program, Cassandra replied, “Don’t procrastinate. We had so much to do, and if you procrastinated, you couldn’t get it all done.” Also, “I learned that I am worth so much more than what others had told me before. I learned that I am smart; I am capable, and I can do anything through determination and strength.”
Cassandra is currently employed as a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) at CVS Pharmacy in Richlands. Cassandra commented, “The best program take away for me is that I now know how to best carry myself as a professional, and I have the knowledge to perform my job professionally.” Cassandra continued “Dr. Amy Meade teaching the brand and generic drug names to us has been most helpful in my work. Also, I was able to update my resume and make it look more professional.”
SRAE congratulates Cassandra on her hard work, perseverance, and success in achieving her goals! Cassandra plans to work as a CPhT for a while and then go back to school to become a registered nurse.
Are you facing challenges when it comes to reaching your educational goals? Let SRAE help you develop your roadmap to success in 2020. We offer tuition-free classes at convenient times and locations throughout the region. Contact us at 276-889-5424.