A Single Mom Bets on Herself and Builds a Healthcare Career (Stephanie’s Story)

When Stephanie Stapleton reached out to the Columbia Job Center, she was a single mother working a low-wage position at a gas station, trying to make ends meet. She was looking for a job that could truly provide for her family, and she had already made a plan to get there. She had enrolled in State Fair Community College’s Medical Assistant program, with classes set to resume in a few months. What she needed was help covering tuition, books, and other expenses so she could see it through.

Through the WIOA Adult and Healthy Blue programs, the Central Workforce Development Region was able to help Stephanie cover those costs so she could complete her program without further delays. Both programs played a role in clearing the financial path that stood between her and a new career.

State Fair Community College’s hybrid format let Stephanie attend classes virtually while she continued working and searched for better employment, which she found along the way. Juggling a full-time job and a full course load was demanding, but she stayed motivated despite her reservations about returning to college as an adult. She wanted to show her kids that you can improve your life, and she decided leading by example was the way to teach them.

Stephanie said the program gave her a lot of hands-on experience through clinicals, which she was fortunate to complete with her employer. That experience helped her gain confidence in her work and build the skills to be competitive in the workforce.

Stephanie graduated from State Fair Community College’s Medical Assistant program and is certified as an EKG Technician (CET), Phlebotomy Technician (CPT), and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA). Today she is employed at Compass Health in Columbia, earning a strong wage with full benefits. She said her kids are proud of her and her high GPA.

Her advice for anyone on the fence? “Go for it. You never know the outcome.”