Akinya is a true example of perseverance and hard work. She is currently a student at Ross College Online and she is working on obtaining her medical assisting degree. After choosing to go back to school in her later adult years, she encountered some challenges along the way, but she chose to keep pushing and she gave it her all. She never missed a session. She always completed her work on time and did so with a positive attitude. Akinya took every piece of advice from her instructor and used it to learn and grow. She wants to set a good example for her children to excel in school. English courses normally have high fail rates, and although Akinya encountered some challenges at the start, she was able to finish the course successfully because she pushed herself and she allowed herself to receive help. She will succeed in her career because of her dedication, passion, and drive. Ross College Online is honored to play a small role in helping her achieve her dreams.
We sat down with Akinya to hear more about her story.
Here is what she had to say:
Tell me a little bit about yourself.
So my name is Akinya. I’m located in Toledo, Ohio, and I’m currently in the online medical assisting program. I am studying to get my medical assisting associate degree. As far as my hobbies go, I love drawing, writing poems, shopping, and I really love designing my own clothes. I am also a mom of three wonderful kids and I am currently engaged and about to get married in April.
What led you to Ross? Have you always been in healthcare or was Ross your first exposure to healthcare?
Well, I was a CNA originally and also a debt collector. I wanted to get deeper into the medical field and I felt I didn’t enjoy my debt collector job anymore. I felt like I needed something new, so I signed up at Ross. I really liked the idea of doing medical assisting. I love to help others and I still wanted to be in medicine.
How has your experience at Ross been so far? Do you have any memorable experiences or moments?
So I’ve been doing the online 55-week program and it’s been going well. Like I said before, everything is always a bit difficult when you start, but I’ve been getting the hang of it. I struggled a bit with the math portion since it’s not my strongest subject, but I got through it.
Did you have any people that inspired you along the way?
Yes, Marie has had a huge influence on me. She’s been my mentor and teacher. Also, my fiance has been a huge support as well. He inspires me to keep going.
What are some important lessons that you’ve learned so far?
I would say just don’t worry about what people think. Everyone has their own journey and you have to do what’s best for you. Another huge one is to ask for help. Don’t be afraid because more often than not, people are more than happy to help.
What advice would you give to students who want to pursue a similar path as you?
I would say to just stay on top of everything. You don’t want to fall behind because once you miss one assignment it’s actually really hard to catch up. I try so hard not to procrastinate at all. Once you procrastinate it’s hard to catch up and by then, you should be working on another assignment.
What are a few things that you wish you knew before going into the medical field?
So, I thought that it was going to be super hard, but it’s not that bad. I mean you obviously still have to put in the work, but it’s not that bad. I was also worried about the medical terminology. People sometimes talk about how it sucks that you have to go to school for so long, but the time passes by anyway, so you might as well do it. If you pay attention, it’s not that bad at all.
What achievements are you proud of?
I would say I am proud that I graduated and got my certificate. I’m also really proud of myself that I actually went back to school. I’m a bit older. I’m 36, so at my age, going back to school is kind of a big deal. I was kinda afraid of what people might think. In fact, I was one of the oldest ones in my class.
What advice would you give your younger self?
The advice I would give to my younger self would be to stop pleasing everyone or caring about what they think. I think I spent too much time on that. Just focus on yourself. Everyone will talk and have opinions but you have to do what is best for you. Also, you don’t always need a lot of friends. It’s actually good to be solo. Yeah, sometimes you may feel lonely, but you don’t have to worry about drama or chaos. It’s actually quite peaceful.
A fun fact about you.
So a fun fact about me is that I’m actually pretty funny. I’m definitely a people person. At first, I may be more serious and professional, as everybody is, but once you get to know me, I am actually really funny. I love to joke around and have fun.