June 28, 2019
After a decade as a certified nursing assistant, Juan Meza was ready to take the next step. But before he could advance in his healthcare career as a vocational nurse, Meza needed to do one more thing -- namely, finish high school.
"I grew up in South LA. I don't wanna say I was a troubled youth but I was doing things I wasn't supposed to, getting in trouble, stuff like," Meza said. "I actually dropped out in the ninth grade, I was 14 years old. I started working at an early age."
Meza worked a number of odd jobs before finding a home in healthcare, he said. He liked being a nursing assistant due to its flexible hours and he enjoyed caring for patients, but he always knew the nursing field had more to offer him if he completed his education.
"I started at ACC from the bottom so I'm grateful to even be here. ACC just helped me to cross the bridge into my career, helped me get my foot in the door," he said.
After earning his GED from the ACC Educational Foundation & HSE Academy, Meza jumped into the vocational nursing program at American Career College-Los Angeles. At ACC-Los Angeles, he said, Meza was impressed by how invested the faculty and staff were with his success and development.
"The thing with ACC is, everything is there for you. You just have to have the will to look for it. If you want it, it's there. You have it. I mean as far as resources and stuff like that it's all there," Meza said. "If you come to ACC just know that it's a great place, they're there help you and just don't stop. Don't stop -- just keep on going. You may trip along the way but get up, dust yourself off and keep on going."
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