Being a young mom with two children who decided to return to school after nearly a decade has been difficult. I walk a fine line between prioritizing school and managing my household. While my children are always my main concern, my motivation for success in school is still to benefit them and their future. Some nights have been filled with family dinners, bedtime routines, and staying up past midnight to complete assignments, while others have been consumed with caring for my sick children and studying in fifteen minute intervals wherever I can find the time. I have built a life already, and I am fitting in furthering my education into that life. I have little leagues, field trips, and various doctors appointments to pay for, alongside tuition bills and textbooks. I understand that being a traditional student has its own difficulties, my experience is just different from theirs. I tried to be the traditional student and enrolled at our local community college straight out of high school. During that time, however, I was still blossoming into myself and discovering the world around me. I was motivated to explore adulthood and learn more about myself rather than attend classes. I had no idea what I wanted to do long term, I was thinking in a very short term state of mind as teenagers often do. I quickly dropped out, and worked various part time jobs while enjoying times of leisure. However, my gap year quickly turned into weddings and baby showers and I began raising my own family. I am happy to say I learned more about myself through these experiences. I discovered what I enjoyed, what I am skilled at, and what inspires me. They motivate me to further my education and have a successful career. They are the impact that pushes me further. This nontraditional route was not what I expected or originally planned, but it was what I needed. My personal experiences after having children is what sparked my passion for healthcare. Because my son has faced health issues, we have spent plenty of time in medical facilities and I am fascinated by all medical professional's ability to provide care for those in need. My first time around, I didn't know what I wanted to do or what I enjoyed, I was simply going to school because it was what I was "supposed" to do. I was unmotivated and uninspired, but this life I have lived thus far has given me both of those key pieces to being successful in school.

My name is Marina Perales-Brady, I am a young mother of two small children and married to a hardworking, blue-collared tradesman. As times became increasingly difficult and bills became a little harder to make on time, I quickly decided that the best thing for our family was for me to begin working. While there were plenty of job openings available, I was too ambitious to take just any minimum wage job. I longed for an education that could offer me a lifelong career that I am passionate about. While "traditional" college is a great option, it wasn't the best option for me. My family was already struggling financially, and I would need to enter the job market as soon as possible. Most programs in a trade school can be completed in two years or less, and after plenty of research, I found that most programs offer an externship which would allow me to have real, hands-on experience with the potential of getting hired on upon completion. This was great news! I could receive a higher education at an accelerated rate, receive hands-on experience, and possibly even a job opportunity through a single program. I could help change my family's life in just a few short years and this meant everything to an already struggling family. The trades are jobs that are always needed and offer excellent job security, benefits, and pay. These jobs are highly respectable and there is trade in many different fields. Fortunately for me, I have always wanted a career in healthcare, and there are so many different opportunities for trades within the medical field. I had so many different options when determining which route to go, and because of the smaller school size, admissions teams were able to really guide and help me with making my decision. I am excited to share that I am enrolled at High Desert Medical College pursuing a career in cardiac sonography. This is a career that inspires me, and I have the support of a school that wants me to succeed as well as the support and motivation of my loving family to keep me going. I am so grateful for the opportunities that the trades offer, especially the opportunity of a great future for my family.

Tradespeople are the backbone of society, and that is as true now as it was one hundred years ago. Even with technological developments, there is still an everlasting need for skilled tradesmen to provide essential services to everyday people, which is why pursuing a career in the trades is something that never goes out of style. I am a mother of two young children and a wife to a tradesman. We are your average middle-class family trying to get by in a fluctuating economy by constantly adapting. Our most recent adjustment is the decision for me to head back to school in pursuit of certification for medical coding and billing, a healthcare trade that is another one of those professions that is always needed to keep the societal "wheels" turning. It is my goal to have a stable career with opportunities to grow, and the trades are a constant, which is appealing to me as stability is what I look for most in my family life. Vocational school is attainable to everyone, even myself, a stay-at-home mom whose schedule typically includes being the teacher, maid, chef, and professional cuddler. Most programs are offered online, where I can complete assignments and study for exams after bedtime and during naps. The tuition is more affordable than heading to your typical university, and the timeline to complete your program is accelerated. Because I have a family already, timing is important, so the ability to go into a career quickly will offer me the ability to spend more time with my family rather than being in a traditional school. Equal opportunity is the most important social cause because it affects everyone collectively, all while still being personal to each individual. Any person should have access to the opportunity to better their life. University education is expensive and time-consuming, which is something that isn't an option for most of America, and certainly wasn't an option for me. Vocational schools offer the working class that opportunity. I can be a mother, a wife, and a student. Because of trade school, I have access to a higher education that will lead to a promising and rewarding career. The importance of skilled tradesmen will continue to have an impact on our society for generations to come. From electricians who keep your lights on, to radiology technicians who assist the doctor in keeping you healthy, there is always a need for people who are skilled in these types of professions. Everyone in the trades has an equal opportunity to start training and to grow within their career when they finish school, what they do with that opportunity is up to them. This is the blue-collar American Dream.