Meet Ashleah!
Boardman Training Center (BTC) is proud to highlight Ashleah Cooper as September’s graduate of the month. Her journey demonstrates how career training can help students discover a career path they are passionate about while providing the flexibility they need to balance work and education.
Continue reading this blog to discover how Ashleah’s experience at BTC gave her the opportunity to explore a career in healthcare, gain hands-on experience, and build the skills she needs for her future.
Finding Her Path
Before enrolling at BTC, Ashleah was working at a daycare while trying to figure out what direction she wanted to take with her career. “I was working at a daycare, trying to decide what I wanted to do with my life.”
Ashleah had always been interested in helping others and knew she wanted a career that would allow her to make a difference. When she learned about the opportunity to train in healthcare, she knew it was worth exploring. “I have always wanted to work in some form of healthcare to help others, and when I saw the opportunity for this, it really interested me.”
BTC stood out to Ashleah because the school offered a program that aligned with her interests while also providing the flexibility she needed to continue working. “It had a program that really interested me and was able to give a good education with the flexibility I needed to work as well.”
Her Phlebotomy Experience
Ashleah chose to enroll in BTC’s Phlebotomy program. Throughout her education, she gained practical knowledge and experience that prepared her for a future career in healthcare.
Looking back on her time in the program, Ashleah describes her experience as amazing, stating, “I was in the phlebotomy program. It was amazing. Ally is an incredible teacher, and my classmates were great.”
One of Ashleah’s favorite aspects of the program was the opportunity to gain hands-on experience. Rather than simply learning about phlebotomy concepts, she had opportunities to practice the skills she would need in a professional healthcare setting. “I loved getting all the hands-on experience and practice throughout the whole class.”
Hands-on training can help students become more comfortable applying what they learn and prepare them for the responsibilities they may encounter in their future careers.
Looking Ahead
With her phlebotomy training completed, Ashleah is looking forward to beginning the next chapter of her career. She hopes to work in a setting where she can continue helping others while using the skills she developed at BTC. She shares, “I want to work in a smaller outpatient center or possibly a donation center.”
Her ideal career is inspired by her own positive experiences as a patient: “My dream job would be in an outpatient center similar to the one I used to go to because they were always so kind and helpful, and I want to do that for others as well.”
Ashleah also has goals for continued professional growth. She hopes to keep progressing throughout her career and become the best version of herself. “I would like to see myself progress more in my career and build my way up in life to become the best I can be.”
For Ashleah, one of the most rewarding parts was learning about a subject she was genuinely interested in and thinking about how she could apply that knowledge in her future career. “Getting to learn so much about a topic I am so interested in, seeing how I’ll use it in future jobs.”
Her experience is a great example of how finding a program that aligns with your interests can help you take the first step toward a fulfilling career.
Advice For Future Students
For students considering a career in healthcare, Ashleah believes Boardman Training Center can be a great place to begin. “Absolutely! I think BTC is a perfect start to a lot of healthcare careers, and they have an amazing teaching style as well as making it affordable and flexible.”
Her advice for future students is simple: “I would say take your time and don’t stress yourself out, and help is always available.”
Knowing that support is available can help students feel more confident as they work through their training. Asking questions, practicing new skills, and using available resources can help students make the most of their education.
Start Your Healthcare Career at BTC
Ashleah’s journey began with a simple question: What did she want to do with her life? By exploring her interests and finding a program that offered the education and flexibility she needed, she took a step toward a healthcare career.
Her story shows that you don’t always have to know exactly what you want to do right away. Sometimes, finding the right opportunity can help you discover a career path that fits your interests and goals.
Ready to take the first step toward your healthcare career? Request information from Boardman Training Center today to connect with an admissions team member and explore our career training programs.