This April (2010), Rodriguez passed the state exam and graduated from Highbridge Community Life Center's Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) program.  The 6 month course offers both internship and job-placement assistance, both of which Rodriguez has utlilized to her advantage. "I was going through family deaths and all I could think about was what my family was going through," Rodriguez added, "but my counselors sat me down and helped me realize that I could get through it.  That's the difference between my old schools and Highbridge."

By the end of the course, Rodriguez had never missed a day of classes, and received both the highest final exam grade and the highest overall quiz grade. "At graduation when they called my name, my low self-esteem vanished," she said. She is currently enrolled in the GED class and hopes to earn her GED this summer. Since Highbridge's health career's track allows eligible CNA graduates to enroll in Pharmacy Tech, LPN Prep or Phlebotomy EKG at no cost, Rodiguez hopes to remain at Highbridge for the Phlebotomy course after obtaining her GED.  "My goal is to become an RN by the time I'm 40.  Five years ago I would have never thought of wanting something that big, but now I know it's possible."