Mariela’s Inspiring Journey
When Dr. Mariela Castellanos arrived in the United States from Cuba, she carried with her years of medical experience and a doctorate degree in medicine but faced the daunting challenge of starting over in a new country with limited English skills. After dedicating her life to serving healthcare patients in Cuba, she found herself in an unfamiliar place, knowing that rebuilding her career would require tremendous determination and the right support system.
The Foundation: Mastering English
Mariela understood that language would be her first steppingstone to success. She enrolled in EOC’s ESOL classes and dedicated herself to completing all five levels of Rosetta Stone. Through the ATTAIN Lab and tutoring lab, she gained crucial skills that extended far beyond language learning.
“In the ATTAIN Lab I have gained different skills: typing abilities and computer basics, I expanded my vocabulary, pronunciation and grammatical abilities, and increased my ability to think, reason, and communicate,” Mariela explains. “I learned to pay attention to details; it helped me to prepare for future assessments.”
Overcoming Setbacks with Determination
Ready to pursue healthcare training, Mariela took the TABE entrance exam for a healthcare course. When she didn’t achieve the required score, many might have been discouraged. Not Mariela. Instead, she viewed this as an opportunity to strengthen her foundation.
Working closely with the ATTAIN/EOC tutoring lab, she developed a comprehensive action plan to prepare for retaking the test. Mariela utilized Edmentum software to complete TABE prep courses in both Math and Reading, while simultaneously taking advantage of the health science course to begin learning about the American healthcare system.
The Power of Comprehensive Support
What made Mariela’s journey successful wasn’t just her personal determination, but the comprehensive support system she found at ATTAIN/Tutoring Lab. The flexibility and quality of the training program particularly resonated with her.
“The training program is excellent because the person can prepare from home, you can plan your time, you can exchange skills with other students,” Mariela notes.
The tutoring lab and ATTAIN Lab became Mariela’s anchor throughout her journey. She describes how the support helped her achieve her goals with three key elements:
“First, the training software is easy to access and understand. Second: The ATTAIN Lab and tutoring lab gives you comprehensive support and guides you with patience and dedication to your goals.”
A Bright Future in Healthcare
Today, Mariela successfully passed her TABE exam and is registered to complete her Phlebotomy training and certification through SUNY Syracuse EOC. Her journey from struggling with the entrance exam to gaining acceptance into the program demonstrates the power of persistence combined with the right support system.
“The program impacted me positively in my life and career because it introduced me to the healthcare American system, helped me to learn and share knowledge, and helped me to stimulate and improve myself,” Mariela reflects. “I plan to help others with this knowledge.”
