Amaya is an Adult participant from the Flint Healthcare Employment Opportunities (FHEO) Program, a GST Michigan Works! service provider. Amaya worked as a direct care worker before applying for the FHEO Program. She shared that she has always been interested in healthcare because she enjoys leaving a positive impact on patients and aiding others.

Before healthcare training, Amaya completed 120 hours of Life Skills and Healthcare Career Exploration training hosted by Flint Strive. Amaya shared that her time with Flint Strive was very eye opening. She stated, “I didn’t realize how much I had forgotten when it came to my professionalism, I had gotten comfortable when working jobs for a long period of time. Flint Strive got me back in check.”

Amaya researched her training options and pursued phlebotomy training at Mott Community College. The FHEO Program paid for Amaya’s tuition, textbooks, uniform, and laptop device required to complete classroom training. Amaya shared that her instructor was “the sweetest teacher ever and she set her classroom up for everyone to succeed”. Once she completed her classroom training, Amaya was placed at Hurley Medical Center to complete her externship. Amaya said, “I learned a lot from Hurley’s outpatient team. Phlebotomy isn’t just poking people, it’s an art that requires technique.”

Amaya successfully completed training in December 2023 and began job seeking right away. Amaya quickly gained employment with American Red Cross where she provides phlebotomy services at blood drive events. Amaya is proud to share that she is skilled with 16-gauge needles, collecting pints of blood and properly packaging blood so that it can safely arrive at the lab and be provided to patients in need of the blood. Amaya shared that she is currently attending Mott Community College and working on her nursing degree. She shared that her long-term goal is to own her own a mental health practice.