Student Stories Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Lancaster County Career & Technology Center

When Ashley Smith started the full-time Practical Nursing Program in January 2021, she was the mother of three kids, ages 1, 14, and 17. She was excited to continue her education to provide a better life for her family, and show her older kids the value of Higher Ed. One month into the program, her boyfriend, aged 31, had a heart attack in front of her. Juggling her family and her boyfriend’s recovery forced her to put her education on the back burner. With so much happening, she didn’t think to ask for a leave of absence. Without this step, the clinical hours she missed meant she couldn’t receive credit for her month of schooling. True to her character, Ashley didn’t give up.

A New Start

Once her boyfriend recovered, Ashley returned to the LCCTC part-time Practical Nursing program to start over again. The part-time program holds classes in the evenings over 19 months, allowing students to work during the day. Ashley felt renewed and ready to put her education first. On the day of her first big test, she also took another test and found out she was pregnant. Instead of using this news as an opportunity to pause, Ashley was more prepared and motivated to finish and start a career that could benefit her family.

Clinical hours are critical to students’ success in the LPN program, and Ashley planned ahead for the birth. She saved up her time so that she would have a few days off and ended up giving birth to her daughter on Tuesday, March 22, and was back to school that Thursday. For many, this timeline would seem inconceivable, but Ashley was determined to finish.

Serious Complications

Following the birth of her daughter, Ashley started experiencing troubling symptoms. She had high blood pressure, dizziness, and at one point experienced vision loss in one of her eyes. After three months of her symptoms intensifying (all the while she was diligently keeping up with her work and school) she ended up in the hospital. The symptoms were related to eclampsia, and her condition was dangerous. She was required to be on a magnesium drip. One of her nurses tried to convince her to drop out of school to focus on her health, warning Ashley she could die. Ashley’s response was “yea but I also could live. If I live it will all be worth it”. Ashley was literally dead-set on reaching her goal of graduating and provide a better life for her family.

After Ashley was released, her mother-in-law came to live with her family and assisted them in taking care of the kids, cooking meals, and most importantly, looking after Ashley’s health. “She would make me drink garlic water and take all of my supplements.” Having an extra adult there who could help made all the difference and allowed Ashley to focus solely on her goal. She says “I was all about persevering”.

Reaching the Finish Line

Finally, on January 23, after two chaotic years, Ashley graduated from the LPN Program. She passed her boards on March 1 and is working two jobs. However, she is not quite finished with her education. In January 2024 she plans to go back to school for her RN degree through a bridge program offered by one of her employers. Her driving force remains to be an example for her kids, now 1,2, 16, and 19. We are sure they are, as anyone who hears Ashley’s story cannot help but be impressed and inspired by her tenacity against all the roadblocks she has encountered.

If you or a loved one is interested in furthering your career, or pivoting to the in-demand field of practical nursing, Visit our website to learn more.

In 2019, Gabe Leon worked for an arborist, working with his hands to cut down and trim trees. He had always considered it an accomplishment that he received his GED after high school, and he liked being active. However, despite consistently working since age 17 to provide for his family, he always felt like he was scraping by. That year, while working on an AC unit at his home, Gabe was electrocuted and sustained severe injuries. Besides being technically dead for a moment, he also lost a finger. The physical side effects permanently prevented him from returning to his job, and recovery would require months of physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Gabe (Left) working in the LCCTC Auto Lab

Luckily, along with physical therapy, Gabe was paired with an occupational therapist who worked with him to find new opportunities for employment. The Occupation Vocational Rehab Program connected Gabe to a Social Security benefit that would help him pay for post-secondary training in the area of his choice, and allow him to pivot to a career that aligned with his interests and abilities. Gabe had enjoyed working on cars since the age of 14, and he decided to attend the Automotive Technology Program at LCCTC to earn his Specialized Associates Degree.

In August of 2021, Gabe started his classes and credits instructor Brian Singer with his success in the program. “Brian made my experience was it was. Before I started I came in and spoke to him, He was knowledgeable, and a lot of the things he said spoke to me”. He found attending school as an adult was different than in High School. “I had more stake in the game than when I was younger, and I wanted to set an example for my kids.”

At the start of Gabe’s second year in the program, he was able to shadow a few days at an automotive dealership in Lancaster. That opportunity led to a job offer, and Gabe was able to work there part-time until he received his degree. Following graduation, he had a full-time job waiting for him.

Gabe (left) working in the LCCTC Auto Lab

Working at the dealership helped solidify Gabe’s plan for the future, and helped him realize that he needed a position that would allow him to work on all kinds of cars, new and old, to gain experience. That goal led him to a shop in Manheim where he works on vehicles that offer more variety and hands-on expertise compared with the relatively new cars he worked with at the dealership. “Everyone where I work now has been there 30+ years, and I feel lucky to be there.”

Gabe’s five-year plan is to start his own business as a Roadside Rescue Mobile Mechanic. He has friends who have started their own businesses, and their success sparked a thought in his head inspired by a technician he follows on YouTube, who runs a mobile mechanic business in California. Gabe knows he needs to put in the time to hone his skills to make the next step. “This job gives me the experience I need to reach that goal.” As a roadside mechanic, you can never predict what you will be working on, so building a repertoire of experience will make Gabe successful when he decides to make the leap.

In the meantime, Gabe is enjoying his current position and is thankful for the journey that got him there. Gabe’s career shift has allowed him to dream about a future that was not possible before and allowed him to better provide for the future of his family and business. We can’t wait to see what Gabe does next!

There are still spots available in our Automotive Technology (AST) Program, starting August 28, 2023! If you want to learn more visit: lancasterctc.edu/programs/automotive-technology-ast/ or email jl****@**********TC.edu to learn more about the application process or schedule a visit to check out our programs in person.