Venice Gamble, Sr., VN Program (Lynwood)

“I am a 45-year-old single father of two boys, the Chairman of Jordan High School’s School Site Council, and the reigning Student Body Vice-President, here at St. Francis Career College. I was raised in Norwalk, California which is near Los Angeles where I lost my father at only 4 years old. This left my mother to be a single parent of three children causing us to go on welfare where we remained for my entire childhood life. My mother is now a retired Home Health Aide, from the hospice field of nursing. My siblings have both attended college in the past, but I will be the first among us to actually graduate from college with a degree.

As an adult I have dealt with extreme financial hardship due to a recent layoff and it nearly cause me and my family to be homeless. My extensive background in Nursing and the continuation of my education in Nursing has allowed me to get back on my feet. I chose St Francis Career College at first just because they had an RN Bridge Program which would make it easier to enter the RN Program faster then at a traditional College. After attending St. Francis Career College I have found it to be more than just another school. Self-discipline and hard work isn’t expected of the students, it is demanded of them. I believe our graduates are equal to or even better than those graduates from Ivy League Universities. St. Francis Career College graduates often gain employment at St. Francis Medical Center because we set the standard in the practice of nursing. SFCC is changing my life. I’m sure that you can tell this school makes me proud to be a part of it and promote it to everyone I encounter.

“With many life lessons and tribulations as a young mother of two, I enrolled at SFCC in the January 2007 LVN program. In preparation for my entry into the nursing profession, each instructor instilled the gift of knowledge, strength and compassion for what lied ahead as a nursing graduate. I was also given the opportunity to practice my professional etiquette and administrative techniques as a work-study student for the college.   After my successful completion of the program, and passing the state board exam, I found the desire to contribute and share the gift that was given to me, onto future nurses, as an Academic Coach (tutor) at SFCC.  Continuing my story of success and never-ending goal to strive, I have recently started the LVN-RN Bridge Program and I am eagerly awaiting to fulfill my dream of becoming an RN.  SFCC has been the stepping stone and blessing that has allowed me to excel and stand above all.”

Tesmesgen Dejene, VN Program (San Jose)

  “I’m originally a carpenter from Ethiopia and came to the United States to join my sister, Nigtwa Alemu, to find other opportunities here. My sister graduated from St. Francis Career College in 2008 and, based on her great experiences, I thought it was the perfect fit for me. I believe strongly in the St. Francis mission because in my country I grew up in a church and spent a lot of time helping the poor and underserved.  I hope to one day become an R.N., or maybe more depending on what God has in store for me.  I consider nursing to be a very rewarding and stable career and I especially enjoy clinicals, and interacting directly with the patients. I encourage all of my friends to get into the nursing field and I think St Francis Career College is just the place.”

Cindy Lau, VN Program  (San Jose)

"This is my second year at St. Francis. I chose the nursing profession because I truly enjoy working and helping others especially infants and children. I love the feeling of nurturing others back to health. I chose to study at St. Francis because I love the small classes, helpful staff and firm rules that help keep me on track.  St. Francis has also assisted with many resources to fund my education. I learning about new diseases/disorders and the medications to treat them particularly interesting, but my absolute favorite part of the program is the clinicals, being in the hospital, hands-on practicing what I’ve learned.  Of course having a great instructor makes everything even better. I highly recommend St. Francis’s "Study with Your Buddy" Program; it makes studying after class more enjoyable with fellow classmate Ophelia Magpusao.”