Mariah Alesi
Age: 19
Hometown: Newport News, VA
Region: Philadelphia
Center: Blue Ridge
Dates enrolled: 10/16/2018 – 5/10/2019
Training: High School Diploma, Medical Administrative Assistant

Mariah Alesi enrolled at Blue Ridge Job Corps at the age of 16, as she looked to jumpstart her career opportunities. “Growing up was pretty tough for me, but I tried to make the most out of my situation,” she stated. She was attending school, but didn’t have a plan for what would come afterwards. That is until she heard about Job Corps from a friend. Mariah explained, “my friend told me about her time attending Job Corps and how much it pushed her towards success in the nursing field.” Mariah realized that was something that she wanted for herself, and with her mother’s blessing, she applied to the program.
She came to Blue Ridge with two goals: complete a trade and earn her high school diploma. She had roughly 50% of her high school credits still to complete and got right to work on completing those. Meanwhile, she chose to enroll in the Medical Administrative Assistant trade. There she gained a variety of skills need in a medical office, such as scheduling appointments, managing medical records, and using the phone and computer systems.
Mariah completed the program with her high school diploma and Medical Administrative Assistant certification in hand, and was able to begin her career right away. She is currently employed at Caring Hearts Senior Living in Newport News, VA as a Patient Care Assistant. With their help, she is continuing her education, as she plans to become a Registered Nurse.
“Go for what you want in life, and make the most out of your opportunities,” Mariah advised.