Success Story: Iolani Elisara!

Iolani "Ani" Elisara

For this month’s success story I decided to write about Iolani Elisara or, “Ani” as she likes to be called. Ani is an active participate of the WIA youth group and Leadership for the Barstow office. Ani is one of seven children and is the first to pursue a degree straight out of High School. Both of Ani’s parents only received a High School diploma, and decided she wanted something different. She began attending and working at Barstow Community College in 2013. Her professional goal is to go into the medical field and become a Family Nurse Practitioner and to later join the Air Force. She is well on her way to reaching her goal, during her first semester at Barstow Community College, Ani has made it on the Barstow Community College President’s List by earning 12 or more graded units and achieving a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.75 or Higher. Last month Ani was one of almost 100 students that received a scholarship from Barstow Community College. Ani’s story is truly one of success that is still being written.

Ryan Schwantner Success Story

When Ryan first started at the Career Center of Big Bear in 2012, he had a lot on his plate. His girlfriend was four months pregnant and because of this new development; many problems arose at home, he didn’t have a stable job and needed to move on towards the next chapter in his life. 

Ryan fought through the hard times and completed Customer Service, Computer Skills and Financial Freedom, along with many Life Skill projects which helped him in his future jobs and personal financial issues. He maintained great attendance and gave everything his all. He has and continues to go above and beyond  to provide a great example of himself for his child to look up to. Ryan is bettering his life, and in turn, bettering his family’s life.

Mr. Schwantner is now working four stable jobs. He works at the Bowling Barn and The Fun Plex as a Game  and Computer Mechanic, employed at Far Sight Studios as a game tester, and is also working at West Coast Amusement as a Contract and Vending Tech.  Fueled by his passion of graphic design, he is able to work in an environment he loves. His dream jobs enable him to be able to provide for his growing family, which is now a family of four. He has two sons, four stable jobs, a home to call his own, and a broadening career path. This is Ryan’s version of success.

-Dezi Guillen

Small town, big dreams, & success!

Success Story: Michelle Lopez

Michelle Lopez is a Barstow Native that has achieved great success. Lopez has been working at both Barstow Community College and Barstow High School for more than ten years. Lopez graduated from Barstow High School however she didn’t attend Barstow Community College until several years later after she met with a counselor from Barstow Community College. He encouraged her to get a degree from and transfer to Park University once she received her degree. Lopez then went off to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Psychology from Park University and a Master’s Degree in School Counseling from the University of La Verne. As soon as she obtained her Master’s she was hired by Barstow High School and then got hired by Barstow Community College when the started a summer outreach program for high school students. 

I then asked Lopez what her definition of success was and she replied, “Achieving the goals one sets for themselves and enjoying the end results. I enjoy what I do on a daily basis, which is helping students succeed and reach their goals!”

I honestly believe that Ms. Lopez’s story is a great one to share because, she pursued her dreams and was able to give back to the schools that helped her along the way. She is proof that just because you live in a small town doesn’t mean you can’t dream big and be successful.

"I know I will be there soon..."

Success Story: Janette Cuevas

(Cuevas and her two children)

This month I decided to choose someone I knew personally as my success story. This is Janette Cuevas, my cousin. Who just enrolled into our High School Completion program. Janette grew up as the only girl in a family of five so, she was constantly competing with the boys in her family. Janette started working full time at the age of fifth-teen to help pay bills around the house. However, it took a toll on her education. Soon after she started working, she dropped out of High School. Janette then went to work in the fast food industry, she also worked the reception desk at a local hotel, and even interned at a local radio station. She then started working at a local Chipotle Restaurant. In 2011, Janette gave birth to a handsome little boy by the name of Mason, then in 2013 gave birth to another handsome little boy by the name of Ian. Janette is now the manager of the Chipotle Restaurant she works in. However, she feels that not having her High School diploma is holding her back. This and her children have empowered her to go back to school and get her diploma so they could have and live a better life.

When I asked Janette what her meaning of success was she replied, “Success to me is being happy with those you love. I’m happy, but I am not yet where I want to be in life but I know I will be there soon to make a better life for myself and my two little boys!”

Success Story: Jesenia Velasquez

Success Story: Jesenia Velasquez

Jesenia Velasquez with her siblings, Francisco & Rosa

Working close with my colleague/friend Jesenia, I’ve come to understand what kind of person she is. She’s very kind, loyal to the ones she cares for and she's very giving. With her can do attitude and and happy go lucky spirit she earned herself an AA degree in Natural Math and Science. Her next step in life is to attain her bachelors in Neuroscience at Santa Barbara bringing her closer to her ultimate goal which is receiving her Ph.D in Neuroscience. One lesson she will take and cherish from the Career Institute is that self-presentation is key to opening doors leading to new opportunities. The one thing she loved and will miss about the Career Institute is all the new friends she made during her years as both a participant and a student ambassador of the Career Institute.

Success Story: Tim Togafau

Success Story: Tim Togafau

Tim, with members of his family after graduation.

This month I decided to make fellow Student Ambassador Tim Togafau my Student Success Story. Tim started attending Barstow Community College in Spring 2012. Throughout his time attending Barstow Community College, Tim has faced many obstacles but none of them have stopped him from receiving his Associates Degree in Psychology on Friday, May 23, 2014. When I asked Tim what his meaning of happiness is, he simply replied:  “Finding your purpose in this world and fulfilling it and when looking back on life at age 80 having no regrets but a feeling of fulfillment”. What Tim will take and cherish from the career institute is pursuing your goals with fervency and the family bond formed between the participants of the Career Institute Barstow W.I.A. group of 2012/2013. Tim was also the Student Assistant for Career Mentor Melissa Matteson. Working with Tim has truly been a wonderful experience, I wish nothing but the best for him as his future and hope’s he lives his life as he once said “Like a BOSS!” 

Sarah Hilton's Story of Success

Sarah Hilton is a former student of The Career Institute. She has successfully accomplished  many of our certification programs such as; Customer Service, Small Business Management and Financial Freedom in 2012. She became employed with Little Ceasar's this past October. Sarah is using the skills she has learned  at the Career Institute in her everyday life while working as a Cashier and managing her own money.

Sarah is currently attending Sierra College in Rocklin to gain her four year degree in becoming an American Sign Language Interpreter. She chose this career path because she sees the need for help for the hearing impaired. Her sister got her involved in signing when she was younger and loves everything about helping others and learning a whole new language without having to speak.

"Thank you for letting me have the chance to obtain the knowledge in small business management and how to handle customers with the courses I was able to be apart of."

Viridiana's Take on Success

Raised in Big Bear Lake, California, Viridiana Salinas has proven that you can stay in your hometown and continue to be successful. She is twenty two years old, currently attending college, working two jobs, and starting up her own business.She is a determined individual and plans to achieve every single goal she sets her mind to. One of these goals that she is achieving already is paying for college on her own. Viridiana is working towards an Associate's Degree in Business Administration, and plans to continue towards her Bachelor's.Viri likes going to the community college courses offered at the high school in Big Bear and she feels very lucky that they are available. She works as a server part-time at a well known restaurant called Jasper's Smokehouse, and is an Office Aide for the Career Center of Big Bear. Working both jobs is time-consuming, but she wouldn't trade the memories she's made with her co-workers, and the customers and students she's been able to help for anything in the world. With excellent customer service and organizational skills, she handles both of these jobs with ease. As an Office Aide of the Career Center, and an assistant to our NUA Teacher Colin Schour, she helps with the enrollment process of each student, as well as keeping up with all the documents that need to be turned to in for each student each month and end of semester.Along with all that, she is also now officially a business owner! She just obtained her license to Melody's Cleaning Service! Viri feels confident that her business will shine in Big Bear. This is her beginning chapter into the business world, and she hopes one day to own a second business in the food or sales industry. An adventurous and tenacious entrepreneur making her mark in Big Bear, Viridiana is a definition of success.

Student Success Story: Stephanie Saiz

    Stephanie Saiz

Stephanie Saiz

Stephanie Saiz was born and raised in Barstow, California. She was in band for most of her life playing the flute and the piccolo. Stephanie is currently attending Barstow Community College perusing a degree in Social Science and hopes to find a career in helping others. Stephanie is also Career Mentor Melissa Matteson’s Student Assistant and current participate in the WIA program in Barstow. I asked Stephanie what her definition of success was, she stated that she believed that the true meaning of success for her was to “be happy and make others happy”. I also asked her if she felt that she has reached happiness in which to she replied “I think I’m close, but not quite there”. Stephanie is extremely grateful for being able to be a part of the Career Institute because it’s helping her prepare the youth in the community how to be responsible and confident by helping them with resumes, work experience and find a job. 

Breanna LaVoire Success Story

          

Breanna LaVoire is now successful by having a full-time job as a house cleaner. She starts school for Cosmetology in June where she will be attending part time. Breanna and her boyfriend have their own apartment in Huntington Beach, CA. While attending the Career institute she learned a lot about customer service, and retail sales. She got to do a total of 150 hours of work experience split between Chautauqua High school & The Nutmeg Hair Salon. She has received a lot of work experience with office work as she was offered to be the Executive Assistant at the Career Center of Big Bear for a year and a half. Breanna also got over her fear of being too shy to talk to new people or in front of people. The Career Institute helped her obtain her first car. All of the money she had saved from doing the work experience got her to her goal of owning a car. The Career Institute has helped her get experience to get other jobs, and they have helped her become more knowledgeable with customer service. With the Career Institute’s guidance, Breanna LaVoire is on her way to achieving her dreams. 

-Dezi Guillen 

Defining Success

Dakota Cazares has always dreamt of dedicating his life towards saving the lives of others. He is a twenty year old soon-to-be-college student, living on his own in Orange, California. Dakota recently moved from small town Big Bear to big city Orange, and he is adjusting to living on his own and to finding his own way to follow his dream of joining the medical field. He is going back to school to become a Vocational Nurse starting this next fall semester at a local community college, and is currently working at Carls’ Jr. Dakota is saving up for the courses while paying for his living expenses.

The drive to help others runs in his blood, he comes from a long family line of nurses, EMTS, and fire fighters. Through the Career Center’s programs, Dakota was able to take an EMT course and solidify his decision that the medical field was for him.  The Career Center helped him further his career path and pushed him to keep going when the going got tough.  He feels confident and prepared to go towards his personal goals and for whatever comes next.

Student Success Story!

                                    Michael Navarro

Navarro and Instructor Jeff Lambert

Michael Navarro also known as “Mike” is 24 years old and is a resident of Barstow. When we first met Mike he was unemployed high school drop out with no idea of how to get back on track. Mike then interviewed fir our PG & E program and is now currently working Full time and is enrolled in our High School & G.E.D. Completion program. Mikes goal is to gain experience and complete our G.E.D. program so he would have better opportunities come his way. Mike has stated that living in Barstow he's noticed that job opportunities are very little and even less without having a Diploma of G.E.D. He is dedicated and motivate about completing our program so that he'll have better opportunities in life.

A Look at Success

On Tuesday, I went to interview Charlene Manex for my Monthly Success Story. We met at her work place-the Bear City Animal Hospital. I learned about her amazing job as a Veterinary Assistant and how she is on her way to becoming a Vet Tech! Charlene's passion is to help others in need, and she is definitely living her dream.

It is remarkable to hear the stories of individuals and to find out what paths they have chosen. Charlene shared her tale with me, and it was quite an amazing one. I've enjoyed writing her Success Story, and I can't wait to hear more stories from other WIA Students-past and present!

-Sarah Avignone