Sarah Proffitt

Age: 25

Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA

Region: Philadelphia

Center: Blue Ridge

Dates enrolled: 5/8/2018 – 1/25/2019

Training: Clinical Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy Tech., EKG Tech., Patient Care Tech., Electronic Health Records

For Sarah Proffitt growing up was quite chaotic due to frequent military relocation and fallout from her parents’ divorcee. “I became progressively reclusive as a teenager,” she explained, “and I tried everything I could to make it to college”. After that plan ultimately failed due to inadequate support and lack of funding, Sarah moved in with a friend. She used this time to try and figure out her next steps.

With her living situation less than ideal, she knew she had to find somewhere to go quickly. She explained, “I was desperate for any doorway to a promising career. I made little money, had no car, no health insurance, and how long I’d still have a place to live was entirely unpredictable.” After seeing a flyer for Job Corps at her local library, she decided to apply, even though she thought it sounded “too good to be true.”

In her 8 months at Blue Ridge Job Corps, Sarah earned a variety of certifications, including Clinical Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy Tech., EKG Tech., Patient Care Tech., and Electronic Health Records. She also volunteered as a tutor for Math, Reading, and ESL students and worked with children at a nearby church. In addition, she served as the Student Government President.

Within a month of departing from the center, Sarah was fortunate enough to find a job as a Nursing Care Partner on the general care floor at The Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, where she worked full time while pursuing an associate’s degree. Currently, she works as a Registered Nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and she will be returning to college in the fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree at Mary Washington University.

As a word of advice to current students, Sarah stated, “Utilize the time and resources at the center to maximize your potential.”