The RTC motto, “Find your place,” has become the daily refrain of, “I belong here!” for Central Service Technician student Melissa Nguyen. Now just one quarter away from earning her degree and graduation, Melissa is extremely proud and hopeful about what the future holds for her and her son, Jack.

“I wake up ready and eager to learn every day,” she shared, “I want my son to go to college, and he needs to see me accomplish that to show him anything is possible.”

Melissa added with her signature enthusiasm, “I truly believe it’s never too late to reinvent yourself or start over.”

Having returned to school later in life, she will be the first to share she has faced many obstacles and personal losses along the way. “I didn’t have guidance or support as a kid and dropped out of high school. I didn’t know what my options were.”

She had always been drawn to helping people and worked as an in-home caregiver. That is when she realized that finishing her education and getting a degree was the only way to further her career.

The first step was finishing her GED and figuring out how to pay for college as a single parent. That is where the McCarthy Bridge Grant opened the door for Melissa to take the next steps.

Mapping out her future and achieving education milestones along the way has brought her a great sense of pride.

Her RTC instructor praised her as a woman who continues to show, “remarkable determination in balancing school and family responsibilities. She does not allow obstacles to limit her progress and instead uses them as motivation to continue advancing her skills and career goals.”

That determination and commitment to her education has brought Melissa to the threshold of a new healthcare career that includes scholarship support.

“I lost everything during COVID,” she shared, “If it wasn’t for donor support, I would not be where I am today looking forward to a better future and career – thank you!”