Britton
Brittan was a 21-year-old single mother of an infant when she came to Vermilion County Works in 2020. At the time of her enrollment, she was working part-time as a food server, earning $5.75 per hour. She knew that she wanted a change and the opportunity to provide a better life for her son. She came to our office with the goal of earning her Associates’ Degree in Health Information Technology at Danville Area Community College and finding remote work in the healthcare field. After meeting with our staff to verify her eligibility, complete an assessment, and develop a career plan, she was enrolled in services. VCW assisted Brittan with her tuition, fees, books, and supplies in order to support her career goal.
2020 was a difficult year to begin a new career path. At the same time that DACC transitioned to online learning, Brittan was involved in a car accident. These events could have been enough to deter her from her goal, but she persevered. She was determined to see her courses through. So, with a broken nose and an altered education plan, she completed her semester with a 3.7 GPA.
In addition to COVID concerns, Brittan was a single mother and was struggling to balance family, work, and school. As her third term approached, she recognized that working full-time to support herself and her son was taking its toll on her education. Instead of allowing her GPA to suffer, she decided to proceed with a lighter course load, which allowed her to proceed more confidently and successfully in her courses. She was determined to complete her education, even if it took longer than she originally anticipated.
In the summer of 2023, Brittan graduated with an Associates degree in Applied Science in Health Information Technology, and a certificate in Medical Coding. She just celebrated her 1 year work anniversary at True Rx Health Strategists, where she works remotely as a Patient Care Representative. She is extremely appreciative of the assistance that she received at VCW and the life that it has provided to her and her son.