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

"Bridge to College Success!"

Bridge to College Success!

(Instructors and Students for Bridge Program 2014, Image Source:Barstow Community College Official Facebook )

Earlier this month Barstow Community College started its annual Bridge to College Success Program for recent graduates and/or graduating high school seniors in their service area that plan on attending Barstow Community College. The Bridge Program is designed to give an insight and prepare student for their first semester at Barstow Community College. During the program student's take various workshops to prepare them for college-level classes. I personally believe this program is a wonderful opportunity for student's! It not only prepares them educationally but it also prepares them for a different type of educational environment. 

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.