For Samantha Kunz Voelker, a lifelong dedication to hard work has always been second nature. After years in retail, where her friendly and outgoing personality shined, she found herself longing for a career with more purpose and room to grow. When her husband was diagnosed with stage 4 heart failure, Samantha’s life changed dramatically. She became deeply involved in his care, learning everything she could about his condition and medical needs. That experience sparked a new passion for healthcare and inspired her to pursue her education at American National University, where she could build a meaningful career while continuing to care for her husband at home. Her dedication and determination recently earned her recognition as a Term Trailblazer for term 254!

At first, Samantha wasn’t entirely sure if a career in healthcare was the right path – she just knew how much she loved caring for her husband and children. As she began exploring schools online, one name immediately caught her eye. Her strong sense of patriotism drew her to American National University, and she decided to learn more. After filling out her information, she was soon contacted by a member of the admissions team, whose encouragement and guidance helped Samantha take the next step toward her new career journey.

“She made me want to go… she instantly made me feel like I was part of [ANU] already.”

Her education at ANU has given Samantha the confidence to improve the care she gives her husband, and to one day join the field of medical assisting. “It’s more than I ever thought,” she says, “being able to do school at home and work in my own comfort, I feel like I’m absorbing more. I don’t feel as intimidated.” Being online has given Samantha more freedom to learn in the comfort of her own home, whereas an in-person environment would cause her more stress. She explains that being in-person wouldn’t provide her the comfort to join discussions, whereas ANU’s Zoom sessions have given her that opportunity.

“I also think doing it online [with] the live lectures – the live lectures are actually my favorite part! Because the discussions – I get to hear everybody’s point of view about a topic about a certain topic so it makes me look at it in a way that I wouldn’t have looked at it before… I personally feel like I learn a lot more doing [classes] online than if I were doing it in a classroom.”

Samantha found the staff at ANU to be supportive of not only her journey but also her peers’ journeys at every turn. The Medical Assisting program chair, Carrie Rodriguez, is one of the first staff that made an impact on her. “She helps everybody. She’s just got a pure heart and she’s good in anything! If there’s ever any questions about anything – it could be something [that has] nothing to do with her – and she will help you in every way,” Samantha explains.

Additionally, Dr. Stephanie Denton has made a difference in her learning experience. “I absolutely love her!” Samantha begins, “she talks a lot, but she knows a lot about a lot. If she doesn’t know, she’s gonna look it up and tell you… She’s right there every bit of the way for everything that you’re doing. To me, that helped me learn a lot. She gave me a really good foundation to be able to be successful in [my] classes.” One of the highlights of ANU’s online experience is that it brings people from all over the country closer together. In Samantha’s time, she learned that Dr. Denton grew up not too far from where Samantha lives now. “After talking to her and getting to know her, I felt like I almost knew her on a personal level [because] we have a lot of friends in common, towns in common, and stories in common.”

Her future goals include working at the clinic where her husband goes for appointments. After that, she hopes to love working in the medical field as a medical assistant so she can possibly pursue a nursing degree later. “I have a friend who is a nurse practitioner – and in the town that I live in, there isn’t any clinics, so we would actually try to get a clinic here and have something at home,” she explains. “Already, doing all of this, I already know, I am far more passionate about it than I thought I would be. I thought I would just do it to hopefully to help others learn about LVAD and certain heart failure and challenges my husband has faced. I see myself continuing and continuing to grow my education in the healthcare field.”

Would she recommend ANU to others?

“I have actually already recommended ANU to a few people around here, that I’m trying to get them in,” she says. She has a friend who has been struggling with the financial aid portion of education. “The financial aid team at ANU was so easy to communicate with and helped handle things. That was my biggest thing I was worried about, and they made it so easy for me!”

Her advice to new students starting at ANU is: “Plan! Daily planners, plan, write out schedules… I am a mother to three stepchildren who live with me, I have a husband in end stage heart failure, I have nine rescue cats, I work a job, and I am a full time student. If you plan everything out, it will work just fine!”

The post Advocacy Leads to Passion appeared first on American National University.

When Timothy Adedoyin reflects on his journey in information technology, one thing is clear: the field has transformed dramatically since he first began his studies. Now recognized as a Term 252 Trailblazer at American National University, Timothy is pursuing a Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) to ensure he stays ahead in this fast-changing industry. Originally from Nigeria, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science and a master’s degree in information technology, he came to America determined to upgrade his skills and academic qualifications for the future. With ANU’s courses, Timothy has not only excelled in his classes but has improved upon knowledge he already had.

Reflecting on why he chose ANU, Timothy shared how the university’s approach to education aligns with the way he learns best. “For someone like me, ANU is the best school for me. How do I mean? I am someone who is always self-taught, independent, and I really, really need my own time,” he explains. “I don’t want to go sit in a conventional classroom, especially when I want to work and be able to earn my degree.

So ANU presented the opportunity for me to learn at my own comfort, supervised and graded by the highest academic standards, and also be able to get experience from renowned professors and doctors in the program.”

For Timothy, it wasn’t just about advancing his education—it was about finding a program that fits into his life. “So, most importantly, it was the perfect fit for me [with] work life balance.”

Timothy also shared how his studies at ANU have had a direct impact on his professional life. He takes pride in showcasing his academic journey, and even small milestones have boosted his confidence and highlighted the value his workplace places on his education. “My signature for my email was updated with MSIT at the end. That made me feel great, so yeah, my workplace values it and I think it’s a great one for me, too,” he says.

One of the experiences Timothy valued most during his time at ANU was the international student residency. It gave him the opportunity to connect face-to-face with professors and peers, building relationships and insights that enriched his online learning experience. He explains that some of his favorite moments of his education come from the residency days he attended, “the interaction between myself and fellow students and instructors, and particularly I want mention Dr. Sullivan and Dr. Godlove. Those are two people who are a significant part of my life and study.”

He goes on to describe why Dr. Nathan Sullivan and Dr. Timothy Godlove impacted his study. “Dr. Sullivan works in the industry, so he brings industry experience into academics, which makes him a very great [teacher]. Likewise, Dr. Godlove – we had a lot to talk about because his experience is from the past when he was, I think, in the military, and he’s also in the academics now. So we can relate on production, implementation of IT and its original academic aspect… Beyond that, sometimes we also discuss work relationships, how to angle something, real life work relationships in class. So those discussions and the residency were actually significant for me.”

For Timothy, one of the most rewarding aspects of studying at ANU has been the diversity of the student body. Engaging with classmates from all over the world has broadened his perspective, enriched class discussions, and made his educational journey even more meaningful. “It’s the diversity and broad spectrum of knowledge that the school allows individuals to share,” he explains about what he likes most about ANU.

“Of all the schools I’ve been to [before], they have been conventional in such that it’s been people from the same region. But ANU brings everybody from all over the world – I’ve met people from Africa, from Asia, from America – all over the world. The beauty of that is a lot of these people come with their own experiences, they come with their own process of how they do things and standards. You see some differences that you can say ‘I’m going to borrow how they do this over there, I’m going to use this.’”

Looking ahead, Timothy is focused on using his advanced IT skills to lead a larger organization. “The goal is to be a CTO for a large enterprise. That’s the goal,” he says with a wide smile. Timothy is confident in his aspirations for that role due to the education he’s received thus far in his life.

Would he recommend ANU to others? “I would recommend it to people who are ready to put in the work, people who are hardworking… It would be for someone who is determined to put in the work and succeed.”

Timothy’s advice to new students is to “be serious from the very first time. Set your goals and know what you want. Do not say ‘oh I’ve got all the time to get up my grade.’ Also timing, do not procrastinate, you’ve got to set a strict schedule… And most importantly, I would also encourage that the student interact with others and also don’t just read the book to pass, think of how you can apply the knowledge, think about the ways you can apply the knowledge.”

The post A Broad Spectrum of Knowledge appeared first on American National University.

After years of hardship and uncertainty, Kayla was encouraged by a friend to take control of her future. She began at a community college and even took a leap outside her comfort zone, moving away from home for the first time to work at Disney in Florida. After stepping back to refocus on her career path, a conversation with someone close to her led her to discover that Medical Billing and Coding was exactly where she wanted to be. “You have so many options in it,” she explains about her choice of career. Kayla enrolled in a local institution in West Virginia and worked in the field for a few months before relocating to North Carolina. However, upon moving, she discovered that her original certification didn’t transfer between states—so she needed a nationally recognized certification to continue her career.

While Kayla had the work experience and the education that she needed to test for her certification upon her move, Kayla is a lifelong learner. She valued the opportunity to learn more about her field to fully immerse herself into it. “I was just doing research, and I knew I wanted it to be all online. I didn’t want to go anywhere in person. And so I found ANU,” Kayla explains upon how she found ANU’s program. “I knew I needed my CPC (Certified Professional Coder certification) so I went through [ANU]. I’m glad I did! I like the support I’ve had.”

“Sherry Davis is probably my favorite person. She was my biggest supporter. Like, before my [certification] exam, I was freaking out. And she was like, ‘you got this!’ She was the first person I told [that] I passed… She was just great!”

“I did have a great experience with ANU,” she explained, reflecting back on her diploma program, “I love the Zoom classes, I like being able to talk to people and having my classmates [around].” Even though she’s already gone through a program prior, she still gained a lot of knowledge and support she needed to succeed from ANU. She explains in her career that she now audits codes doctors put in.  “In the place I’m in now, [the doctors] do all of the coding. I just make sure it’s correct!” She says. This kind of work is something she’s been able to achieve with the education she’s had and the experience she has put into her career.

Her future goals, now that she’s earned her CPC certification, are to continue to work her career and to enjoy her life with a flexible career. She hopes one day to work remotely so she can travel the world, “and I want my job to be able to go with me!”

Would she recommend ANU to others looking to get into Medical Billing and Coding? “I would! I like the support I had from my advisors… they always reach out! Any questions I’ve had, they’ve always been answered.” She even goes on to say that her professors have been great. “I’ve enjoyed all of my professors… they’re just willing to help, and they encourage you, and they support you. Especially Sherry Davis!”

She gives advice to her fellow classmates about the journey it may take to get their perfect career.

“[The jobs] are there, they just want people with experience. You get experience by starting somewhere… school will teach you blue, red, pink, yellow, and black. Working in it is going to teach you turquoise, teal, lime green, hot pink, baby pink, sky blue – it’s going to teach you all the shades of colors… schooling [and experience] is so important.”

The post From Small Town to Big Dreams: Kayla’s Journey with ANU appeared first on American National University.

Originally from Syria, Rama moved to the United States with her family in 2016, eager to build a better future. As a wife and mother, she wanted to earn a degree that would help her reach her career goals while balancing family life after having to put her education on pause during her pregnancy. Upon exploring different opportunities in the medical field, she came across American National University’s Medical Assisting associate degree program and knew it was the right fit for her. “One of [ANU’s] advisors really helped me. He directed me through the whole program… I told him about my situation that I have a baby, like my schedule is not always as I need it to be. He was like, ‘yeah, you can do morning classes! Or if that doesn’t work, you can do evening classes.’ And I was like, ‘okay, that’s amazing, that’s what I’m looking for!’” She explains. As Rama has always had her eyes on the medical field, this program allows her to get her foot into the door and earn more as she desires.

“I love the medical field. I’m so excited since I’m getting to the end of the degree because now we have hands-on stuff. We’re looking more into things in detail and I’m not just learning about the overall human body. We’re now doing blood pressure, we’re doing some injections – that gets me so excited! I always tell my husband, ‘oh my gosh, I have a lab kit coming! I’m so excited to see what’s in it!’”

With her excitement in her courses, Rama was also pleasantly surprised to learn that her lab kits were included in her tuition, and she didn’t have to pay out of pocket to obtain the material she needed to learn in her courses. “When I started the program, and the teacher told us. ‘yeah you have to send us the address and we’re sending [lab]kits.’ I was like, ‘are you sure I don’t have to pay anything?!’ And she was like, ‘no! This is through the program.’ I really appreciated that, it’s really helping me,” she describes with laughter. This is one of the main reasons she stayed with ANU, because she could get the hands-on training she wanted without having to leave her daughter or change her schedule.

Rama has really been grateful to learn from her professors’ previous work experiences. Because ANU has career trained professors and instructors leading their classes, students can benefit from real world experiences through instruction. “I love how they tell us these experiences, their experiences, because that’s what really sticks [in my] mind… if you heard it from someone else, then you’ll know how to react when it happens to you,” she says. In particular, Traci Dingle made an impact on Rama’s education through her engaging Zoom sessions in Ethics. “Her Zooms – I was always excited for it!” She smiles, “she made us all excited because we were all engaging in the [ethics] situation… I really, really enjoyed her class.” Additionally, Rama enjoyed Dr. Stephanie Denton in her Anatomy and Physiology course:

“She is super! I love her. She always tells us examples and made it so simple and easy to understand… She always tells us stories, she has a lot of experience that she shares with us.” She also explains that Stephanie made things easier for her as English isn’t her native language – “It’s sometimes hard to understand some grammar and some words that are new to [me], but she always makes it simple to understand.”

Within the next ten years, Rama hopes to spend as much time with her daughter as she can. She plans to stick with medical assisting for a while in order to evaluate her goals at every step of life. “I see myself working part-time and then continuing my education,” she explained.

Would she recommend ANU to others? She already has! “I recommended [ANU] to my sister… I was like ‘it’s 100% online and you can do things [hands-on]!’ That was like the most important things for me… The instructors are so, so, so good! They help out a lot.” She goes on to describe her experiences in other colleges before ANU. “I used to send an email and not get an answer. I used to send an email and get a late, late answer and that was when the due date was over… Whenever I text any of the instructors here [at ANU], they get back to me within 24 hours. I never get late, late replies or not helpful answers. I told [my sister] all of these things.” Her sister has since signed up for ANU and she’s “so happy and she’s excited for everything!”

Her advice to new ANU students: “Look at everything on Sundays. Sunday is the day where every [assignment] is there… I start early so I have time. I always get on Zoom [sessions], I never missed any Zoom. I ask questions if I didn’t understand the things going on – I can send a message privately if I don’t want the whole class knowing… Do your work on time, attend the Zoom, and go from there!” Rama emphasizes the importance of being active in Zoom sessions so that you can absorb all of the knowledge you need that may come up in later assignments, tests, and even within your career later on.

The post Excitement and Appreciation: Rama Alzamel’s Story with ANU appeared first on American National University.

Kaitlyn’s Journey with ANU

After moving away from home in Massachusetts to build a life with her husband states away, Kaitlyn Pennington set her sights on an education that would align with her dreams for a meaningful career. With her husband’s unwavering support, she embarked on a journey to find the perfect program at the right school. Her path at ANU began in the Medical Billing and Coding program and soon transitioned to Administrative Medical Assisting, demonstrating her determination to find the best fit for her goals. Now, Kaitlyn celebrates the completion of her MBA—a remarkable culmination of hard work and dedication—while returning to her Medical Billing and Coding program beginning to further enrich her healthcare-focused education. Inspired by the memory of her grandfather’s belief in her potential, Kaitlyn’s story is one of perseverance, passion, and the transformative power of education to build a brighter future.

When purchasing her first home in Kentucky with her husband, Kaitlyn was inspired to pursue a career in healthcare, influenced by her mother’s work in a nursing home. While working at Kentucky Medical Services Foundation, she met a coworker who was a professional medical coder, sparking her interest in the field. A quick Google search led her to ANU, where she began exploring opportunities in Medical Billing and Coding. However, after discovering her true calling, Kaitlyn’s student advisor guided her to transition into ANU’s Administrative Medical Assistant program. “I told my husband about [the program]. He was like, “oh my god, that sounds exactly like you… I ended up switching over and I really liked it,” she explains. Kaitlyn even took her finals and certification exams just days after having her first son with the flexibility of our online programs. “And that solidified it for me that I was like, ‘you know what? If I can do all that, then I can go ahead and get my bachelor’s. I can go ahead and get my master’s.’ So it just gave me the push to want to continue on!”

Going to school with two young children is no easy feat for any student, but Kaitlyn used her children as her motivators to keep going. What really helped her through it all was the understanding of her professors. While attending her MBA program, she had her second son while also caring for her oldest as a toddler. She was worried about having to go off camera or care for her children would affect her grades. However, “But Dr. Mary Tan was amazing throughout the whole time, even Dr. Dominika Falsey [too]. And I reached out to them just to let them know how appreciative I was of them, because having someone in your corner like that when you’re going through a difficult graduate degree is really important,” she says.

Even more so, Kaitlyn feels incredibly grateful for Professor Rhonda Brewer. Rhonda’s guidance throughout her education helped her get through the toughest parts of her degree path. “When I was doing my bachelor’s program, she was pretty much my go to person for everything,” she says with a smile, “I definitely wouldn’t have been able to remain in such good spirits, I think, if it weren’t for her guidance.” And with Rhonda’s encouragement, Kaitlyn knew she could earn her MBA.

“And then I just so happened to have these other excellent professors when I was in my master’s, and that’s what made me really appreciate the school… I made lifelong friends from the institution, and I had such good professors just throughout the whole process. [I feel] lucky to have been given all of the opportunities because they kind of all just fell into place for me and I just kind of branched out from there.”

Kaitlyn’s grandfather is the one who motivated her to earn her education as he is the only other person in her family who earned a graduate degree. Family has always been important to her – she moved back home to be closer to her parents and in-laws after her father had a health scare – and the inspiration from her grandfather kept her going. “I had just started going back to school and he was praising me so much. He was telling me, ‘you know what, kid? This is what I always told you. You just keep going.’ And the one phrase that he would always say is, ‘aim high and be all you can be.’” She reminds herself of his inspiration even after his passing by keeping a picture he kept of her on his desk with that same quote. This is the advice she would give any student looking to earn their education – from diploma to master’s.

Would she recommend ANU to others? “Yes, I would and yes, I already have!”

The post Aim High and Be All That You Can Be appeared first on American National University.

Dickson Samuel Lutanjuka, an international student hailing from Tanzania, brings a global perspective to his studies while residing in Houston, Texas. Currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Information Technology at American National University, Dickson’s journey into higher education was sparked by the enthusiastic recommendation of a friend. His experience at ANU showcases the transformative power of education across borders and the pursuit of excellence in the field of technology. With his hard work and dedication to his studies, he earned himself the title of Term Trailblazer for term 240!

His decision to join us was influenced by his friend’s glowing descriptions of our innovative approach to online education, which includes a unique four-day residency to meet visa obligations. Not only that, but “the school fee was not too expensive compared to other colleges.” When he applied, Dickson learned how helpful our staff was to his application process.

“[My admissions representative] was helping me a lot, the process, every stage, every step. It was very easy, to be honest, on my side… the process was good,” he explains.

He goes on to describe how easy it was to submit all of his required documents. When he was approved and got his acceptance letter, he began to pay his tuition, and “that was it!” While he is not currently using Curriculum Practicum Training (CPT) as part of his international student benefits, he is thankful he has the opportunity to with ANU. “Once you have your job letter, everything goes so smooth,” he says of working with the international team.

Dickson enjoys being able to travel to campus for his residency days. For four days, he gets to sit with other international ANU students and get to know his peers, all while fulfilling his visa requirements. “To be honest, I do enjoy [it] – it’s special when we travel to attend our residency class. It’s one of the best experience[s] with other students,” he says.

“When I know I am coming to Virginia, I am always prepared and excited. The atmosphere of meeting other students, it’s exchanging different ideas because they are coming from different parts of the world.”

He encourages other international students to apply because he and other students are having “the best experience.” He also explains that the staff on campus are great in what they do. “They support us. Sometimes we are late, and we explain – they are so friendly. They work as a team, they make sure everything we want is there. So I want to appreciate them too.”

In regard to his program, Dickson thinks it is setting him up success in his career. “The program is very good, you know when you’re taking master’s, it’s advanced levels. It gives me time to [learn] my materials because an instructor is not breaking down everything. They give you the assignments, which gives you an opportunity to read stuff in detail and get more understanding,” he explains. He says he can see himself working in the field once he graduates. “Sometimes it’s up to the student, if you want to change, then you to go. It’s very fair. You follow the rules, you follow the [course pace], then you get the mastery parts.”

He enjoys his program especially because of the way his professors challenge him. “I do like our instructors, they have shaped me in the way you have to follow the formats, like APA style. The advancements, when they begin, it was a little bit challenging, but thank God, because I use that as an opportunity. And I keep improving, so I could tell, right now, I am doing better. Maybe this is one of the reasons I scored high,” he laughs. Dr. Shardul Pandya, who nominated Dickson for his Term Trailblazer title, impresses Dickson every day, “he’s very fair.” Overall, all of his professors “did a good job” in his eyes. “Every time they put corrections on my assignments, I do [those] corrections and work on it. And I see the results.”

After he graduates, he wants to jump into his career field. He wants to “apply all the knowledge I have acquired from this college.” He said he is ready to jump in, but he is flexible in keeping his options open to his career and education.

“I don’t see myself going to other colleges… this is my home.”

Would he recommend ANU to others? “Yes… actually I am recommending and am working with one of my relatives. I am trying to help them get to this college!” He would recommend ANU because of our scheduling. “The way that the education is being provided to us, it’s flexible. It gives you time to do other stuff as well… like if you wanted to work, you could still work and still have time to accomplish your tasks.” Another reason he recommends ANU to anyone else is because of our tuition rates, “it’s very fair!”

His advice to new ANU students: “Try to arrange your schedule, your timetable. Give enough time before due dates. And that’s it! It’s not something that’s too much, it’s just the matter of arranging your schedule. Set time to do your assignments and set time to do your own activities.”  He also says it is important to “just enjoy it!”

The post A Good and Fair Education appeared first on American National University.

Harley Odom’s journey into the field of Medical Assisting was sparked by her deep compassion for the most vulnerable members of our society – elders in need of care. Her decision to pursue an associate degree in Medical Assisting at American National University stems from a heartfelt desire to make a difference, fueled by the regret of not being able to do more for her grandmother at the end of her life. Harley envisions a future where she can provide compassionate support to others in their final moments, ensuring that no one feels alone. Motivated by creating a better future and example for her young son, Harley has consistently excelled in her educational pursuits, maintaining a remarkable record of straight A’s, and earning the title of Term Trailblazer for Term 238!

When Harley donated plasma, she couldn’t help but notice how much the nurses and phlebotomists enjoyed their jobs. Inspired by their eagerness for their careers, Harley looked into becoming a phlebotomist. However, when speaking to an admissions representative for ANU, she learned that becoming a Medical Assistant could help her reach the goals she has always wanted to achieve.

“I actually applied to two or three different colleges, and [ANU was] the first one to answer back,” she explains, “within two weeks I was in class!”

She explains that she has stuck with ANU and her education more than she has with other things in her life, determined to finish her education and join her dream career. “I said ‘I am going to finish this!’ There is nothing going to bring me down!” She enthuses.

Compared to previous college experiences she’s had, Harley loves being online as opposed to being on campus. “I love online – the online learning is like the best thing I’ve ever seen in my life!” She says. She explains that on days she feels like she’s running behind, she can still make it to class because it’s accessible to her home and flexible with her schedule. “It makes it so accessible for my son, because I can’t take him into [in-person] class with me.” With ANU, she can take her classes all from home and not have to worry about childcare. She can take her classes while with her son and still earn the education she needs to succeed.

Harley feels like her professors are preparing her for all the skills she’ll need as a medical assistant. “All of my instructors have been super helpful and knowledgeable about the subjects they teach,” she explains. One of her favorite classes was Medical Terminology, which she explains gave her the foundation which her education will build on. Professor Abigal Chelstowski was the instructor of that course and Harley “absolutely loved her kinesthetic teaching style, she definitely keeps the class awake with her examples. I love her!” She goes on to explain that anytime she’s had a problem or needed help, she’s always received it at ANU. “Anytime you have a problem, you can contact administration of any sorts and they will get back to you within 24 hours,” she says, “because of me being online, I can’t just walk into an office and say, ‘hey, I need help with this.’ I message and wait for a response!”

Despite being on the journey towards graduation, Harley has wasted no time in putting her acquired skills and knowledge into practice. Her enthusiasm for learning was evident during her CPR class, where she not only received a CPR kit but also found great enjoyment in the learning process. What truly stands out is her ability to apply her newfound expertise in real-life situations. Recently, she utilized her CPR training to save her own son from choking, showcasing her quick thinking and readiness to act when it matters most.

“He swallowed something right in front of me and my instincts kicked in. I did exactly what my training was… It is the best detailed class I’ve ever done! They show you exactly where your hand placement is, how long you should do it, what you’re looking for… it’s amazing!”

Her future goals include working with the elderly and assisted living care. She also has considered working in hospice. She has these goals to be there for those who may not have anyone else at the end of their lives. She has even considered continuing her education, “after I get this degree, I might continue and go for another one!”

Harley has already recommended ANU to those around her. “It’s just amazing, the teachers are amazing, the schoolwork is amazing,” she gushes. “ANU hasn’t made any mistakes in my eyes. I wouldn’t choose another college.”

Her advice for future ANU students: “Motivation and a good support system will get you through it… Don’t rely on other people for their comments or their praise because you’ll be waiting forever,” she explains. She also holds onto advice she received from her late grandmother: “It won’t be as long as it has been.”

The post It Won’t Be As Long As It Has Been appeared first on American National University.

As a mother and stepmother of five children, the manager to 95 direct reports, and full-time student, Candace Mims is no stranger to hard work and dedication. After graduating from American National University’s, known as National College during that time, Medical Assisting program in 2004, Candace began working full-time at the institution she worked at during her externship. After 17 years at Holston Medical Group (HMG) and several of those managing a big group of people, she decided she needed more management education to help her better service her employees and her patients. She enrolled in our Medical and Health Services Management bachelor’s degree program – and her hard work earned her the recognition of Term Trailblazer for Term 238!

During her first time with ANU in our Medical Assistant program, Candace chose us because she was close to the former Bristol campus. She explains she chose medical assisting because a medical assistant is the one who sat with her during her first rounds of cancer treatment. This medical assistant helped her understand everything she was going through while also comforting her through it. This inspired her to fulfill her role – to be that support for someone else in a vulnerable moment. And her experience in our program helped her not only learn from professors with medical assisting experience, but to network with other students. Along with that, Candace saw that she related to her classmates more. “There were quite a few of us that were not teenagers coming out of high school, going to college. That was nice,” she explains.

While Candace has the clinical expertise needed for her role as Assistant Nurse Manager, she wanted to dive deeper into the business side to better manage the practice and her employees. And she chose ANU again because we offered her entire program online.

“I really enjoyed it – I like the Zoom classes! I like to see people’s faces and know who it is that I’m having discussions with.”

Something that also helped was that her “credits all transferred. So I was able to bring my entire associate’s degree over to my bachelor’s,” she says.

For her classes in the Medical and Health Services program, she says they “hit spot on for what we need to know,” she says because of her experiences within her work.

“I got a lot better understanding of the patient-centered medical homes and the way the insurance company determines our payments… I can sit in the meetings and hear it and know where we’re falling and what our risk value is, but I don’t really understand it. The ‘why’ on it has been ever elusive. My classes have definitely been teaching me that ‘why’,” Candace explains.

She thinks the program is designed exactly as she needed to progress in her career.

A professor she calls out for being excellent, and who also nominated her for Term Trailblazer, is Rhonda Brewer. Candace has had several classes with Rhonda, and she says that consistency has helped her education. “She is very easy to reach, she’s quick to answer questions… she is very encouraging,” she explains. Candace had initial hesitations about speaking too much in classes because of her career experience, but Rhonda pushed her to keep her discussions going. This helped Candace pass on knowledge she gained in her career, as well as helping students who have never worked in a medical office. Candace says that Rhonda made it a point to get to know her students more than just being a professor. “There were times that we logged into Zoom and she would pretty much go around and ask everybody specific things about their week – because she knew what was going on with everybody.”

After earning her bachelor’s degree, Candace plans to stay on the clinical side for “as long as my body holds out.” She explains she wants to work side-by-side with her nurses. And when she can no longer do that, she wants to the administrative side. She wants to make the move into practice management and retire from there in the future.

“I would definitely recommend going to ANU because I have great experiences.” She says.

Her advice to new students: “Watch your Zoom [sessions] again. A lot of times when you’re there and you’re participating, it’s easy to miss other things people are saying. Look back over your slides and take the quizzes a second time if [they’re] offered. Not for the grade, but for the knowledge.”

The post Continued Brilliance appeared first on American National University.

Following years of juggling work, childcare, and pursuing education, Valerie Jett embarked on a journey of self-discovery. It was during this journey that she received diagnoses of autism and ADHD, providing her with the understanding and determination necessary to regain control of her life. And through that, she joined American National University’s Health Information Management associate degree program and had the tools she needed to commit and complete the goals she wanted to achieve. And her dedication to her studies earned recognition from her professors to nominate her as a Term Trailblazer for Term 237!

Valerie first started her educational journey when American National University was still known as National College. She was initially in our business administration management program but left due to the struggles of burn-out. However, when she finally found clarity in her diagnoses, she decided to join our Health Information Management program in order to obtain more flexibility in her career.

“With my autism and my ADHD, I wanted something that opened up the doors to work remotely and in office, if need be,” she explains, “and the pay rates, from what I’ve gathered in my research, is really good for starting out jobs.”

Joining the medical field also helps her achieve a goal of helping others find options that would help them when they’re in need.

During the course of earning her degree, Valerie has found the support she needs every step of the way. “[ANU] has been a lot of help, just with answering questions that I have here and there,” she says. She explains that she’s never had an issue getting in contact with anyone – whether by email or text. When it comes to her professors, she describes they “have been really good, no matter if it was in person or online, for National College and American National.” And in their expertise, she has gained a lifetime of knowledge, of trial and error, without having to live it yet. “What they have learned, what they gained, their knowledge and their passing it on to you. Which makes it easier for your life because you don’t have to live it and go through to learn it. It saves time and you can put your time into learning something else, [something] new.”

Her future goals include having financial stability through her career and owning a home, as well as help her father and their family farm. And she wants to obtain those goals by earning her degree and working to help people in the healthcare field.

“I would recommend [ANU], especially if someone has a busy life. It would definitely be easier for them to go to school, to work, and take care of a family,” she explains. She’s even already recommended ANU to those around her, like her daughter in law.

“I think online learning is just as good as in-person learning. It’s not as chaotic, it’s a lot more structured, to be honest,” she says, “it’s structured with flexibility.”

Her advice to new ANU students: “To be productive is to be on top of all of your tasks,” she advises. She describes using tools to help her do better in classes – as she utilizes calendars and an Amazon Alexa to help remind her of her upcoming tasks. She also advises, “don’t be afraid to talk to your professors because they’re there for you.”

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Laquae mentioned trouble finding a job in his career during the pandemic as the reason he began the pharmacy technician diploma program. And he returned to ANU because of the way we structured our curriculum.

“I love the school, I love the way the curriculum is set up, and I feel as if I went somewhere else, I probably wouldn’t put in as much effort,” Laquae reflects.

With his busy schedule, working two jobs while in school, scheduling flexibility is important. He explains, “if there’s something that I can’t do or if a particular Zoom course isn’t going to work that day, it can be changed to where it can better suit me. And I really, really enjoy that, because it helps.”

When it comes to his classes, Laquae enjoyed utilizing his lab kits in class. He describes all of the materials he received in them – from goggles, gloves, a scale, to even a lab coat. “I think that those courses where I’m going to be able to dive into that kit, I think that’s really, really going to prepare me in being a pharmacy tech,” he says. Laquae goes on to say that the small number of students in his courses has helped him focus as well.  In speaking about one of his classes where he utilizes his lab kit, “I think, in that course, there was maybe six of us in there. So it was really easy to dive in and be quick to ask questions… and help each other out.”

During his first time at ANU, Laquae fondly recalls a professor, Michel Awad, that he had that helped him through tough times. He attended during the thick of Covid, and like many others around the world, the pandemic took its toll on him. However, Michel was a beam of light that understood and worked with him throughout his course. “I can honestly say it’s just the rapport that can be built with the instructors at ANU – I really don’t think I would get that anywhere else,” he explains. Even in his time now, Laquae finds that speaking with his instructors and professors is not only easy but helps him better his education and experience.

Overall, of his entire time at ANU, Laquae has enjoyed the curriculum. He explains that it’s easy to navigate things like Canvas and his courses, everything is accessible, and everyone he speaks to is helpful.

“If there’s something I don’t understand or don’t get or find difficult to understand – I have the instructors right there, classmates right there. Everything is just at your fingertips.”

For his future goals, Laquae wants to move back home to Tennessee and wants to work in a pharmacy – working his way up from pharmacy technician. “I really want to see where this is going to take me… deep down in my gut, I feel like this is going to be it – this is my foundation,” he says of his program, “this is where I belong.” He hopes to go for pharmacy school in the future now that he is secure that pharmacy is the career he wants to be in.

“I would definitely refer ANU to anyone willing to further their education in whatever they’re looking to do,” he says. “Give ANU a try… you will not be disappointed because the help is there. The instructors are great, the financial advisors will walk you through everything. If there’s something you don’t understand… they will give you the resources you need for financial aid.”

His advice to those who start at ANU: “Ask questions – don’t be afraid. Don’t let your age in life hold you back. Go for it… The help is there, the instructors are great, you will be able to interact with people who are possibly going through the same things you are in life.”

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