From Strawberry Fields to the Medical Field: Jessica Martinez, First Generation Mexican, Starts Her Career with the Clinical Medical Assisting Program

Jessica was born in 2004 in Santa Maria, California; her parents emigrated from Mexico in 2000. The area around Santa Maria is known to be some of the most productive agricultural land in the state. Her mother worked the fields as they raised their family, two older brothers, Jessica, and her twin sister, Carolina.

During high school, Jessica sometimes worked with her mother in the field picking strawberries. When it came time to enroll in SJVC Clinical Medical Assisting program, she continued working in the fields with her mother on Fridays and Saturdays. There would be one day off for Sunday, and then she would attend classes Monday through Thursday. One foot in the world of her Mexican emigrant family working a strawberry field, one foot in her future career in the medical field – this is how Jessica stayed connected to family while taking her first steps toward a career. Now, graduating within a week from the SJVC Clinical Medical Assisting program, already working a full-time job she secured during her externship at a practice in Santa Maria, her parents proudly watch their first-generation American daughter launched into a medical career. She looks forward to someday going back to school to become a nurse.  This is her story.

How did you decide on Medical Assisting as a career choice?

As the first generation of my family in this country, it was important to my parents for me to start a career, so I was always influenced by that. As a child, I always liked helping others and I was always interested in the medical field.

Was your twin sister interested in Medical Assisting too?

At first, after high school we were both going to do cosmetology. I wasn’t as interested in it, so I started scrolling through other programs and came upon SJVC’s Clinical Medical Assisting program. My sister Carolina always likes to do things together, so rather that start in cosmetology we both applied for Clinical Medical Assisting at SJVC.

Must have been nice having your sister there!

Yes, it was. I’m not a very social person, I’m quite shy. Even though I like helping people I’m not as interested in talking to them. Carolina and I would always sit together in class, and whenever we needed a partner to do a project we always did it together.

How did you like the SJVC experience?

The faculty are very supportive. My teacher, Lacey Wilde, would always be there when I needed help. She would even stay after school to help. She was very supportive as well as a great teacher.

Tell me about your externship. I understand that’s how you found your job. How did that happen?

My career services advisor found me the job. It’s at the Santa Maria Gastroenterology Medical Group. At first, I wasn’t sure about taking a job in Gastroenterology! It’s very different from a family practice. But I love the job now. We don’t do injections so much as getting vitals and giving information out about procedures.

Do you have any goals or plans beyond what you are doing now?

Yes. I feel like in three or four years I want to go back to school to study to be an RN or an LVN.  I’m not sure which, but I know the career services advisors will help me decide.

I know you’re graduating this week from the Clinical Medical Assisting Program. Looking back, what’s the most important thing you learned about yourself while at SJVC?

I’ve always been someone who likes to do things before they’re due. I like getting things done on time.  I learned that’s a very good trait to have in this kind of field!

Is there anything else you’d like to say to potential students reading this article about SJVC or the Clinical Medical Assisting program?

Sure. The SJVC faculty really care about their students, all the students. They’re always checking up on you, which is good. And for someone who’s shy like me, I liked the fact they created all these different events that made it easier for everybody to get to know each other.

I’d also like to say that I believe starting out as a medical assistant is a good way to start a medical career. If you want to be a nurse or a doctor it’s a good way to see what it’s like. It’s just the beginning of your career and it gets you on the path.