A stay-at-home mom jumpstarts a career as a medical assistant
Amber Rosas always dreamed of a future in the medical field. Then, a series of life-changing events delayed her well-intentioned plans.
She married at 19, moved out of California and became a stay-at-home mom. For several years, her focus was on raising her two children. Then, Rosas’ marriage ended and she returned to California as a newly single parent. Unsure of what would come next, she knew she needed to move forward.
“I have to do what’s best for my kids, honestly,” she says.
Her decision to become a medical assistant led her to the Lompoc Adult School and Career Center (LASCC).
“The staff was really easy to talk to. I didn’t feel intimidated; I walked in with confidence, and I was met with confidence.”
Amber Rosas, Medical Assistant Student, Lompoc Adult School and Career Center
Rosas, now 25, works as a social service assistant at a local nursing and rehabilitation home. Her job keeps her close to the medical field, but it’s not the hands-on career she wants for the long run. Her dream is to work closely with patients, taking vitals and offering support.
To do so, Rosas decided to pursue further education at LASCC and enrolled in a free medical terminology course. Soon, she’ll start the LASCC’s medical assistant program. From the start, Rosas says she felt supported by LASCC.
“The staff was really easy to talk to,” she says. “I didn’t feel intimidated; I walked in with confidence, and I was met with confidence.”
Affordability was a significant factor for Rosas when returning to school. In 2023, she paid over $3,000 to earn a phlebotomy license from a for-profit school. It wasn’t until later that she learned she could have taken the same program through LASCC for free, thanks to financial aid.
“I didn’t know about the adult school then,” she says. “Had I known, I could’ve done it for free.”
When she began researching medical assisting programs, she found that a local for-profit college charged more than $26,000. LASCC, however, offered more accessible and affordable options. Several of Rosas’ coworkers had already completed LASCC programs and encouraged her to take her education to the next level.
“They told me to just do it—so, I did,” she says.
That encouragement, along with support from her current partner, helped Rosas overcome the hesitation many adults feel about returning to school. With work, parenting, and classes, her schedule stays full. But her focus is clear.
“It’s a lot,” she says. “But it’s worth it.”
After completing the medical assistant program, Rosas plans to pursue additional training thanks to the path she started at LASCC
“I’d love to be a registered nurse one day,” she says. “You have to start somewhere.”
Rosas message for anyone unsure about going back to school is straight-forward.
“There’s always light at the end of the tunnel,” she says. “Don’t hesitate. If there’s a will, there’s a way.”
To learn more about the Lompoc Adult School and Career Center, visit https://adulteducation.lusd.org/
Written by Greg Micek
| Regions | Classes & Topics |
|---|---|
| South Coast California | Careers in Health Care |
