Achievement!

Maria, my Lady friend, is a certified CNA!

She had taken care of her Mother (and Mom-in-law, and Dad, and Dad-in-law) up to the day that she died. Afterwards, I had suggested to her that she should investigate going into the health care field since she liked working with older people, and she had experience as such. I think her son must have heard me, for last year he signed her up for CNA (Certified Nurses Assistant) classes and paid for them!

She was in a panic! Understandably so, since she had not been in school for over 30 years! I told her that I knew she could do it, and obviously her son thought so too. She could, and she did.

She did well in the clinicals which is three days working (volunteering) in a nursing home to get the practical experience of what would be expected of them, with her being one of the few that didn't get kicked out. A few of the younger persons got removed from the premises by the instructor for spending time on their phones, chatting and texting, when they were supposed to be working.

She did well in class, with her final score being a 92!

Then Sunday, January 9, 2011 she went to go take her skills test for the state. She passed!

Maria is walking on sunshine right now!

Out of about 30 people that were in her class, only about 5 graduated.

I explained to her that her accomplishment is not just a really big Atta Girl for her, that it's an accomplishment for others as well. She showed some of the younger people that the world does not owe them anything and that they have to work for what they get. Also, just because somebody is over 50, that doesn't mean that their life is over and to roll over and die. There still can be a career or career change if they set their sites on it.

Maria is appalled by the nay-sayers in her life that told her she was wasting her time. I for one cheered her on every step of the way, and even did for her things that would help her along. As she looked around she found many people that were positive and supportive.

It was tough, as she will attest to, having to learn how to study. She spent many a long night watching an instruction video to learn each-and-every step for the various duties she may encounter. All that while still maintaining her household.

So, kudos to Maria for stepping up and achieving!