SJVC Is A Family Tradition For MA Student

Candie Garcia watched three family members enroll in medical programs at the Rancho Cucamonga campus in the last four years. Her sister, Bernice, and sister-in-law, Divina, both graduated from the Medical Assisting program in 2010, and her brother, Joshua, is scheduled to graduate from the Pharmacy Technology program this August. They convinced her that SJVC was the place to begin training for her career in medicine.

Now, about to graduate this month with a 3.94 GPA, she is certain they were right.

“I didn’t realize that it was going to go by so fast,” says Candie. Classes seemed a perfect fit for her interests. “Ms. Cobb (venipuncture lab) really challenged us and prepared us for working with patients in the real world,” she says. “By the end of the class I was completely confident and knew the top 60 most commonly prescribed drugs.”

As a member of SJVC student clubs and national professional organizations and president of HOSA (Health Occupational Student Association), Candie had lots of opportunities to participate in community service events that allowed her to demonstrate her growing medical knowledge and techniques.

“Part of what I learned working with real patients is that, even though someone might be a little bit grumpy, it’s important to still keep a smile on your face,” she says.

Volunteering at community health fairs brought her face-to-face with patients and gave her lots of experience to take into her externship assignment.

Candie’s mom was her greatest inspiration to go to college and to do well. Her mom missed her own chance to attend an art institute on a full scholarship, when her father wouldn’t let her go. Therefore she put her hopes and dreams for higher education on her children.

“It’s very important for my mom to have us succeed, and it’s very important for us to make her proud,” says Candie.

Candie has big plans for her future. This spring she will go on an 18-month mission for her church “spreading the word” in a country still unknown to her. When she returns she plans to go back to school to further her long-term dream of becoming a Family Practice doctor.

“I’m going to keep going to school – all the way up,” says Candie. Her mother is undoubtedly very proud.