When I was twelve, my parents brought me to the US because they wanted to protect me from the violence and killings happening in my hometown in Mexico. I knew no English and spent the first year learning to communicate. After high school I worked at a restaurant for two years where I was treated very poorly and paid less than minimum wage because they knew I was an immigrant. I met a wonderful man and married and we spent the next two years and all our money fixing my legal status. One day I saw a commercial for PMI and it made me want to show my parents that what we did was worth it. My love for animals drew me to sign up for the Veterinary Assistant program. My English still wasn't great; my instructors offered extra help and encouragement. It was difficult, but my classmates and I set up study groups and we helped each other. When I went for my interview for my externship program at the Humane Society, they were so impressed by me they offered me a position. I am currently finishing my Veterinary Technician program while working at the Humane Society. My family had so little at the beginning and we all lived in a tiny apartment. My goal is to buy a house and to help my parents get their legal status to let them know I'm thankful for what they did for me. I am the only graduate from both my immediate and extended family. I'm so thankful for PMI!

I was a technologist that was feeling stuck in a dead end job. I had done my part at work to show initiative. I expressed interest in doing more for my employer and went the extra mile but when promotions came around, I was overlooked. I sought out other positions within the hospital, but they all required a bachelor's degree. I was miserable and decided I had enough of being overworked and underpaid. I decided it was time to make a change and finish my degree, or be stuck with the same job forever. I looked at many online schools but decided PMI was the best choice for me. The staff made it a seamless process. Once the classes started and I found my balance with school, life, work and the time flew by. I wanted to kick myself for not doing this sooner. As graduation came close I gave my employer one more opportunity when a supervisor position became available. I interviewed well, so well they felt I would be over qualified for the position. I decided I may be shooting too low and maybe it was time to broaden my horizon. A month later I received an email from a friend who works for Siemens Healthcare. He asked me if I was interested in a Clinical Application Specialist position. He had notice my work ethic for years and my knowledge of the equipment and had already told the hiring manager all about me. The process from interview to hiring happened quickly and seamlessly. I have enjoyed working for Siemens for the past year now and am no longer miserable. I get to teach what I know and love. I get to travel the world and experience many new cultures weekly. I look forward to what my future holds. I know PMI really help put me on the path to success.

I was a single mom, working two care giver jobs, and attempting to take classes at a local college, but it was difficult. I wanted to be a good role model for my kids, so I began looking online for schools and programs in the medical field that had a flexible schedule. I found the Pima Medial Institute East Valley Campus and enrolled in their 3 month long Phlebotomy Technician Program and that's when I got hooked! After finishing that program, I continued to work in home health and signed up for the Medical Assistant program at PMI's new Phoenix Campus. It was much closer to my home and more convenient for my schedule of going to school, working, and caring for my kids. I had the best experience at both PMI campuses. I found that every instructor I had put forth so much effort, it made it easy to succeed. It's a lot of work and it is fast paced, but the instructors are wonderful and the sense you get is that everyone is in your corner. After completing the MA program I continued working for the same employer but I was promoted to administrator. I've recently accepted a teaching position at Pima Medical Institute. I am so excited to work on a daily basis with the very instructors I have always admired. I think having been a student, sitting in those same chairs, will enable me to be understanding of my students and their situations. I know the struggles of being a single parent and living on a tight budget while trying to complete an education. I am thrilled and honored to work for Pima Medical Institute. It feels like I'm home!

After high school I found myself unsure of what I wanted to do. After jumping around from job to job, I always found myself gravitating toward jobs with animals, so I began researching schools with veterinary programs. I had visited several other schools before coming to Pima Medical Institute, but when I walked through the doors at PMI, it had a different feel. Once I learned more about PMI's Veterinary Assistant program, I realized it was going to be a perfect fit. The teachers made it very easy for me to want to learn and attend classes every day. They were always available to help me understand the concepts I needed to learn in order to succeed. My favorite part was the surgical aspect and the behind the scenes care needed to solve problems. Jumping into the clinic was a little intimidating at first, but PMI taught me to reach for and grasp onto all I could during my externship experience. In the end, my externship site wanted to hire me as soon as I finished! I accepted the job offer and I am now working as a Veterinary Assistant at the very fast-paced Vet Med Emergency Clinic in Phoenix! I often walk through the door and immediately step into situations where I am hands-on both with the doctors and the animals and don't stop until my shift has ended! I plan to continue my education in PMI's Veterinary Technician program and further my career and I'd like to specialize in Arizona wildlife and work with endangered species. PMI has offered me a great starting point in the animal field and has provided me an excellent path for success.

I was driving past Pima Medical Institute one day and noticed a sign for their EMT program. When I stopped in and my advisor told me about the Medical Assistant program, and I learned I could finish in 9 months while still working full-time, I decided it was for me. I fell in love with the MA program! My life pretty much fell apart while I was a student at PMI. My mom was diagnosed with stage 5 renal failure and was in the hospital for months. I worked a 40-hour-a-week job during the day, attended classes in the evening, and squeezed in visits with my mom. My mom and I had shared our bills, and I couldn't keep up financially without her. I received an eviction notice and eventually lost my car. I felt like I was suffocating. During all of this, my instructors and classmates supported me, and Pima helped me with food boxes and other resources. I came to school on the night my mom died because that's where my support was. Emotionally, I could not have asked to be surrounded by a better group. Pima's amazing people - from instructors and student services to career services and front desk staff -- are the reason I kept going and didn't quit school. I ended up being hired by my externship site, and I've now moved on to another employer, but I have to say that I just love getting up in the morning and going to work as a Medical Assistant. I've never been able to say, "I love my job!" before. I am so utterly grateful for absolutely everything Pima Medical Institute has done for me. I don't know where I would be without them. Thanks, PMI!

My dad owned a dental lab so I grew up in the dental field. I wanted to become a dentist but thought that might be too ambitious for a first step, so I decided to become a dental hygienist. Pima Medical Institute accepted me into their program on my first application and it changed my life! My instructors were amazing! Their doors were always open and they were incredibly supportive. I enjoyed every minute of the program and before I even graduated, I had a number of job offers. I worked at my first office for about a year and got some great experience. I then transitioned to working for one of the top cosmetic dentists in the Pacific Northwest. While working as a hygienist, I continued my education at PMI by enrolling in their online Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration Program. I took the methodology my dentist was using, which was very different from general practices, and made that my capstone project for my bachelor's degree. When I graduated, my dentist promoted me to office manager and practice administrator. Since that time, I was promoted again, this time as head treatment coordinator. I have an amazing job that I love! Unlike most traditional university programs, PMI allows a student to complete their program of study and begin working in their field while they complete their bachelor degree online. Because of this, I was able to pay off all my student loans by the time I completed my bachelor's, and I graduated debt free! PMI was the best investment I have ever made.