Adult Education

[Music]

I'm Shana. I'm from the Philippines, and I just moved here in 2019.

I would say six years ago, when I moved here, I experienced culture shock.

I moved here and I couldn’t even speak English well. I didn’t have any friends.

I only stayed at home. I didn’t work.

All I did was lie in bed, scrolling on my phone.

My body clock was changing because, you know, we’re 12 hours ahead back home—so it was very different.

My mom told me that I had to take the GED to get my diploma and go to college.

I was like, “But I just got my diploma from the Philippines!”

It’s a different program. I didn’t know they had a 12-year school system here.

We had a different setup.

But my mom said, “You can do it.”

So I started my GED in 2020.

I took it, then I stopped. I gave up for a few months.

Then I took it again—and I failed.

I gave up again.

Until one day, I said to myself, “I have to do it, because I really want to be a healthcare worker.”

But to do that, I needed a diploma.

I took the last two subjects—and I finally made it!

I decided to return to school because I realized that education is so important.

I realized that education is what’s going to lead me to my professional goals and my career.

I want to build a better future for myself.

Northeast did an amazing job.

They literally helped me through this.

The people who work in this area didn’t give up on me.

It was incredible. I was like, “Wow.”

Every step of the way, they guided me:

“Okay, this is what you need to do. This is what you need to study. You can do it.”

[Music]

Amazing.

So, I’m a caregiver right now—and I enjoy it.

Some of my patients are alone. They don’t have family. They don’t have kids.

That’s why I’m here—to help them. I’m here to support them.

That’s the reason why I want to be in healthcare, and I want to continue.

I already finished my PA technician school.

It was so hard—so hard to memorize the top 200 medicines.

I thought, “Maybe I should try a different career.”

Then I saw this program: X-ray Tech, which is Radiology Technician.

A radiology technician is a healthcare professional who does imaging—X-rays, ultrasounds.

I thought, “I want to do this.”

And that’s what I want.

As long as it’s a healthcare job, I’m fine.

You have to believe in yourself and get out of your comfort zone.

To anyone out there who thinks they’re starting too late or that the odds are stacked against them—please remember my story.

You are stronger than your circumstances, and your future is waiting for you to claim it.