SANFORD — Susie Buchanan knows what it is to lose a job and not know what the future holds. She also knows what it is to find hope and a new direction.

For 34 years, Buchanan had worked at a large manufacturing company in Sanford. Then, in 2009, she was laid off from her administrative assistant position. The hope and new direction came when she enrolled in a 继续教育 nursing assistant program at 中央卡罗莱纳社区学院.

12月. 15, Buchanan received her Nursing Assistant I and II certificates at the 继续教育 Department’s medical programs graduation at the Dennis A. 柳条文娱中心. About 250 students completed their 继续教育 medical programs training during the summer and fall semesters, with about 90 students and their families and friends attending the graduation.

“Losing my job was devastating,” the Lee County resident said. “From October to April, I didn’t know what I was going to do. Then the Lord led me to the nursing assistant program at the college. As soon as I walked in the class, I knew I belonged here.”

Buchanan is now excited about enrolling in 继续教育’s new Patient Care Technician program and gaining more skills in her chosen profession.

The medical programs graduates ranged from those seeking a second career, 像布坎南, 给那些还在上高中的人, 比如斯蒂芬·阿德金斯, 李早期学院的学生. Adkins looks forward to receiving her high school diploma and an associate degree in 2012. LEC is a collaboration of the college and Lee County Schools that enables students to earn both in four years. In addition, Adkins received her Pharmacy Technician Certificate at the medical programs graduation.

“感觉很棒，”她说. “做了很多工作，但感觉很棒.”

Many of the graduates will continue their medical education, while others are either already in or going into the workforce in a variety of careers, 包括护理员, 不同级别的心电图技师, 眼科助理, 药学技术人员, 还有放血技术人员. Others will work in medical support jobs such as in a medical office, 医疗保健业务, 或者做医疗保险账单. Some graduates earned more than one certificate.

“This is the beginning of the rest of your life in your chosen medical profession,学院院长巴德·马尚说, 告诉即将毕业的学生. “You’ve chosen a marvelous profession — you’re in the business of helping people.”

Those words resonated with Delaine Johnson, 查塔姆县的, who received his Nursing Assistant I certificate. He is one of the growing number of men going into nursing.

“People say I have a good personality for working with people and nursing is a great career,” he said as he proudly held up his certificate. “得到这个奖感觉很棒. My plans are to continue my education and go into the college’s Associate Degree Nursing program.”

辛迪·拉姆齐, 推荐正规买球平台 Lee County director of 继续教育, said the medical graduation is an opportunity to publicly congratulate the students who have worked so hard to complete their programs of study.

“I have a great deal of respect for the students who choose the medical field,” she said. “It is not easy, but they will be such an asset to our community in their choice of careers.”