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While Ann has already been through a paralegal education prior to joining ANU鈥檚 certificate program, she says it was 鈥渘othing like [ANU鈥檚] program.鈥� One of the biggest reasons she enjoyed her education here is because of the connection she has felt with her professors and fellow students. 鈥淭he interaction with the instructors, even through Zoom 鈥� I will say, you guys have really mastered that online platform and being able to really communicate,鈥� she explains. 鈥淲e might work on something, and it didn鈥檛 really feel remote. So it was great!鈥� The biggest benefit to earning her certificate is that it added to her already existing education and experience. 鈥淚t is really great to have the update in technology鈥� and the learning, the being entrenched in it as intense as the program is鈥� it really does prepare you for those situations in a work setting where it鈥檚 crunch time and you鈥檙e dealing with this, and you know there鈥檚 an end in sight so you can get through. And learning things that I didn鈥檛 know, because I did corporate [law]. And I worked for a criminal defense attorney a long time ago, so it wasn鈥檛 really anything I remembered.鈥�

Ann鈥檚 professors imbued her with the knowledge she needed to branch out in her career. While she came in with experience from her career, two professors taught her so much more. Dean of the program Wendy Notz and Sheri Clark have made a real impact on Ann鈥檚 education.

鈥淲hat I appreciated is Dean Notz, her class 鈥� like learning so much and having that early really helped build a foundation,鈥� she described. 鈥淎nd Sheri [Clark] always brings learning and humor, like stories that help you learn. [They were] a really good combination鈥� you hear them in your head afterwards.鈥�

Since she鈥檚 finished her program, Ann says, 鈥淚 miss it! I miss the classes! I like learning.鈥� When it comes to her future now that she has completed her certificate, she plans to work in person in a real estate firm. 鈥淚 do best with challenges that seem overwhelming, but I like to chip away at something鈥� I like different kinds of projects,鈥� she explained. She wants to work within these two career fields that she has come to enjoy 鈥� law and real estate 鈥� while interacting with people. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 mind working remote but still being [involved with people]. Like having everyone get together 鈥� it doesn鈥檛 bother me if it鈥檚 virtual.鈥�

Would she recommend ANU to those looking to earn their higher education?

鈥淚 would definitely!鈥� She explained that while she worked for her previous employer, she was working remotely. However, they didn鈥檛 have the work ironed out. 鈥淚鈥檝e told people how [ANU] has mastered鈥� [remote work]. It鈥檚 seamless! Even the online textbooks – where that鈥檚 not something I normally would like 鈥� it worked!鈥�

Her advice to new students: 鈥淕et ready, put the time in and study. Just because it鈥檚 remote 鈥� you have to treat it like you鈥檙e there – nobody is going to force you鈥� Take it seriously and don鈥檛 be afraid to participate in class and ask for help. I think working with the other students is a good experience because everybody 鈥� we all have such different backgrounds.鈥�

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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. 鈥淵ou have so many options in it,鈥� 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鈥檛 transfer between states鈥攕o 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. 鈥淚 was just doing research, and I knew I wanted it to be all online. I didn鈥檛 want to go anywhere in person. And so I found ANU,鈥� Kayla explains upon how she found ANU鈥檚 program. 鈥淚 knew I needed my CPC (Certified Professional Coder certification) so I went through [ANU]. I鈥檓 glad I did! I like the support I鈥檝e had.鈥�

鈥淪herry Davis is probably my favorite person. She was my biggest supporter. Like, before my [certification] exam, I was freaking out. And she was like, 鈥榶ou got this!鈥� She was the first person I told [that] I passed鈥� She was just great!鈥�

鈥淚 did have a great experience with ANU,鈥� she explained, reflecting back on her diploma program, 鈥淚 love the Zoom classes, I like being able to talk to people and having my classmates [around].鈥� Even though she鈥檚 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. 听鈥淚n the place I鈥檓 in now, [the doctors] do all of the coding. I just make sure it鈥檚 correct!鈥� She says. This kind of work is something she鈥檚 been able to achieve with the education she鈥檚 had and the experience she has put into her career.

Her future goals, now that she鈥檚 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, 鈥渁nd I want my job to be able to go with me!鈥�

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

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

鈥淸The jobs] are there, they just want people with experience. You get experience by starting somewhere鈥� 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 鈥� it鈥檚 going to teach you all the shades of colors鈥� schooling [and experience] is so important.鈥�

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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 麻豆社鈥檚 Medical Assisting associate degree program and knew it was the right fit for her. 鈥淥ne of [ANU鈥檚] advisors really helped me. He directed me through the whole program鈥� 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, 鈥榶eah, you can do morning classes! Or if that doesn鈥檛 work, you can do evening classes.鈥� And I was like, 鈥榦kay, that鈥檚 amazing, that鈥檚 what I鈥檓 looking for!鈥欌赌� 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.

鈥淚 love the medical field. I鈥檓 so excited since I鈥檓 getting to the end of the degree because now we have hands-on stuff. We鈥檙e looking more into things in detail and I鈥檓 not just learning about the overall human body. We鈥檙e now doing blood pressure, we鈥檙e doing some injections 鈥� that gets me so excited! I always tell my husband, 鈥榦h my gosh, I have a lab kit coming! I鈥檓 so excited to see what鈥檚 in it!鈥欌赌�

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鈥檛 have to pay out of pocket to obtain the material she needed to learn in her courses. 鈥淲hen I started the program, and the teacher told us. 鈥榶eah you have to send us the address and we鈥檙e sending [lab]kits.鈥� I was like, 鈥榓re you sure I don鈥檛 have to pay anything?!鈥� And she was like, 鈥榥o! This is through the program.鈥� I really appreciated that, it鈥檚 really helping me,鈥� 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鈥� previous work experiences. Because ANU has career trained professors and instructors leading their classes, students can benefit from real world experiences through instruction. 鈥淚 love how they tell us these experiences, their experiences, because that鈥檚 what really sticks [in my] mind鈥� if you heard it from someone else, then you鈥檒l know how to react when it happens to you,鈥� she says. In particular, Traci Dingle made an impact on Rama鈥檚 education through her engaging Zoom sessions in Ethics. 鈥淗er Zooms 鈥� I was always excited for it!鈥� She smiles, 鈥渟he made us all excited because we were all engaging in the [ethics] situation鈥� I really, really enjoyed her class.鈥� Additionally, Rama enjoyed Dr. Stephanie Denton in her Anatomy and Physiology course:

鈥淪he is super! I love her. She always tells us examples and made it so simple and easy to understand鈥� She always tells us stories, she has a lot of experience that she shares with us.鈥� She also explains that Stephanie made things easier for her as English isn鈥檛 her native language 鈥� 鈥淚t鈥檚 sometimes hard to understand some grammar and some words that are new to [me], but she always makes it simple to understand.鈥�

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. 鈥淚 see myself working part-time and then continuing my education,鈥� she explained.

Would she recommend ANU to others? She already has! 鈥淚 recommended [ANU] to my sister鈥� I was like 鈥榠t鈥檚 100% online and you can do things [hands-on]!鈥� That was like the most important things for me鈥� The instructors are so, so, so good! They help out a lot.鈥� She goes on to describe her experiences in other colleges before ANU. 鈥淚 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鈥� 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.鈥� Her sister has since signed up for ANU and she鈥檚 鈥渟o happy and she鈥檚 excited for everything!鈥�

Her advice to new ANU students: 鈥淟ook at everything on Sundays. Sunday is the day where every [assignment] is there鈥� I start early so I have time. I always get on Zoom [sessions], I never missed any Zoom. I ask questions if I didn鈥檛 understand the things going on 鈥� I can send a message privately if I don鈥檛 want the whole class knowing鈥� Do your work on time, attend the Zoom, and go from there!鈥� 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.

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Kaitlyn鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥攁 remarkable culmination of hard work and dedication鈥攚hile returning to her Medical Billing and Coding program beginning to further enrich her healthcare-focused education. Inspired by the memory of her grandfather鈥檚 belief in her potential, Kaitlyn鈥檚 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鈥檚 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鈥檚 student advisor guided her to transition into ANU鈥檚 Administrative Medical Assistant program. 鈥淚 told my husband about [the program]. He was like, 鈥渙h my god, that sounds exactly like you鈥� I ended up switching over and I really liked it,鈥� she explains. Kaitlyn even took her finals and certification exams just days after having her first son with the flexibility of our online programs. 鈥淎nd that solidified it for me that I was like, 鈥榶ou 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.鈥� So it just gave me the push to want to continue on!鈥�

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, 鈥淏ut 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,鈥� she says.

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

鈥淎nd 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鈥� 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.鈥�

Kaitlyn鈥檚 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 鈥� she moved back home to be closer to her parents and in-laws after her father had a health scare 鈥� and the inspiration from her grandfather kept her going. 鈥淚 had just started going back to school and he was praising me so much. He was telling me, 鈥榶ou know what, kid? This is what I always told you. You just keep going.鈥� And the one phrase that he would always say is, 鈥榓im high and be all you can be.鈥�鈥� 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 鈥� from diploma to master鈥檚.

Would she recommend ANU to others? 鈥淵es, I would and yes, I already have!鈥�

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Pikeville, Kentucky native, Bobby Moore, wanted a change in his career after spending nearly twenty-five years as an EMT. Knowing about 麻豆社 because of our campus in Pikeville, Bobby went browsing through our programs. He decided to take a few online courses in our Paralegal associate degree program and decided to jump in fully after meeting some of the professors, including Dean Wendy Notz. With his dedication to his studies, Bobby has earned the title of Term Trailblazer for term 244, nominated by Linda Bernhardt!

After spending decades in the healthcare field, Bobby knew he wanted to change careers. He wanted to pursue something different, and that鈥檚 where ANU鈥檚 Paralegal program gave him the opportunity to find that change. 鈥淚 applied, I did all of my stuff online and within no time, I’ve got a call from somebody, and they actually set up a meeting – a phone interview with Dean Notz,鈥� he explains about his process entering ANU, 鈥渨e went over my background, why I wanted to take the course. She does a pretty good little lecture with you about how important it is.鈥� And from his acceptance and joining his classes, he says that 鈥渆verything was just falling into place.鈥� In the entire process, he found he had no problems transitioning into the program. 鈥淚’ve never had any issues with financial aid or any of those kind of parts with ANU鈥� it was just a smooth transition going into my first couple of classes.鈥�

Bobby enjoys attending ANU because of the flexibility it gives him within his life and responsibilities.

鈥淚t was just easy and for me not being a traditional student, it was just so much easier for me to get used to the way that we did our assignments, the way that we had our Zoom classes. I was still able to be a dad and do everything else that I needed to do. But I could also take all my classes,鈥� he explains.

He explains that as a parent, he gets pulled in so many directions that the ability to attend classes online has been a game changer for him earning his education while being there for his family. 鈥淚t’s laid back, but it’s also structured. I’m not having to wake up and go into a classroom every day鈥� honestly I feel like more people who work jobs and who have family life – if they understood how it worked, I think more people would be interested in taking online classes.鈥�

He explains in his classes that having professors who truly understand the material has been a game changer for his learning experience. In one of his more recent terms, he studied intellectual properties, and he described the class was very intense and one of the more difficult classes he鈥檚 had. However, his professor, Cristi Conrick, made it easy for him to comprehend and complete his classes.

鈥淲here she worked in that field already, it was just so easy to understand. Had we not have had somebody that had that real life experience, it would have been a lot more difficult. But that was one of my favorite classes that I’ve taken so far.鈥�

Every professor that Bobby has had in his educational journey has been a lifeline for him, a person to add to his network, and has given him the knowledge he needs to reach his goals. 鈥淎ll the professors that I’ve had so far, like the last class or they’ll send out an email and just be like, 鈥榯his is my phone number. Once you’re my student, you’re always my student. If you have anything, if you need any help with anything, just message to me鈥�.鈥� And not only that, but he is also meeting students from across the nation to bond with and to develop a professional network.

Bobby鈥檚 future goals include going to school to earn his bachelor鈥檚 degree in legal studies. Additionally, he has found that he one day wants to teach these legal studies to other students. 鈥淚’d actually talked to Dean Notz about what the steps would be for me to possibly come back and teach some classes with the program. Because I feel like ANU has been great for me and I know there’s other people out there that would be great fit for classes like that.鈥�

Would he recommend ANU to others?

鈥淎bsolutely. I would tell [students about] the paralegal program I love, but also [I have] some really good friends that have went through the nursing program. And the ANU campus here in Pikeville is phenomenal for the nurses that they’re putting out there in the field. All around, ANU is a great place to go, and I would advise anybody if they’re looking for it to at least give it a chance.鈥�

听

His advice to new students is to don鈥檛 forget the small stuff. 鈥淚t is the simple things. You’ve got your discussion posts, and you’ve got your responses that you have to respond back to somebody. Those are simple points – you answer a question and then you respond back to somebody and it’s simple. But if you don’t do that initial work at the end of the term, it’s gonna catch up with you.鈥� He explains that students should take the time to make sure they have all assignments in, no matter how small. He also emphasizes, 鈥渋f you’re in the paralegal program, cite your sources!鈥�

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Kalin Boyers (left), like many adults, had long dreamed of pursuing higher education. However, life鈥檚 demands鈥攎arriage, children, and work鈥攍ed her to put that dream on hold. As her children grew more independent, Kalin finally found the perfect time to focus on her goals. After caring for a family member at home, she discovered her true passion: providing care and support, much like a nurse. When she learned about ANU’s Medical Assisting associate degree program, she knew it was the ideal steppingstone to her dream career. Through hard work and dedication, Kalin earned the title of Term Trailblazer for term 242, nominated by her professor, Dr. Stephanie Denton!

In Kalin鈥檚 quest to find the education she needs to reach her dreams of becoming an RN, she explains a struggle to find a program that not only fit her schedule as a working mother but was also accredited. 鈥淚 found a place, I’m gonna enroll, they’re accredited, which is a big deal, because lots of places online don’t actually carry the proper accreditations and then you’re just wasting your time,鈥� she says of her journey to find the right school.

鈥淪o when I found ANU I was like, ‘this is perfect! I can do this online. And then if I choose to go back to school after graduating, then I can continue moving online.’鈥澨�

She explains that attending ANU gives her the opportunity to attend her Zoom sessions and finish her assignments during the week, while working overnight as a patient care technician at her local hospital on the weekends. She says she 鈥渏ust get[s] in that habit every day, open it, look at it. It doesn’t matter if you spend 10 minutes or an hour, you gotta do something. So that’s been the-the biggest factor that has enabled me to stay on top of everything.鈥�

When it comes to her class experiences, Kalin has enjoyed every minute. 鈥淚 feel like it’s down to earth, it’s, you know, it’s achievable, it’s something that you don’t have to feel like you can’t just apply to because you don’t already carry four different degrees,鈥� she explains. 鈥淵ou can start from scratch, you can go from zero to having that degree. You just have to want it, and I feel like they make it doable.鈥� As she鈥檚 in our Medical Assisting associate degree program, Kalin thinks that her program is setting up a foundation for her that will last her whole career 鈥� even as she pursues her nursing degree later on. 鈥淚 think that they’re setting up a really good learning foundation because if you don’t have even medical terminology walking into the hospital, that’s what they use鈥� And so I think that they have done a really good job setting me up to make me feel comfortable around that environment.鈥�

Her professors have been the shining stars for her in her education, however, bringing not only new knowledge for her to learn, but someone she can lean on for her education and beyond.

Dr. Stephanie Denton, the same professor who nominated her for her Term Trailblazer award, has been a professor she admires greatly. 鈥淪he’s so smart. She knows so much stuff and she’s a jack of all trades. And so if there’s ever something that pops into my mind, she’s an open book to ask,鈥� she says with a wide smile. 鈥淪he had mentioned that later down the road looking for job opportunities, you can actually use your instructors as, professional referrals!鈥�

Overall, she says that all of her professors 鈥渉ave truly been wonderful and really, that’s not just blowing smoke. That’s, that’s the, that’s the truth of it鈥� I’ve been really happy with every single one of the professors and there has not been one where I’ve been like, 鈥榦h, I would not do that again鈥�.鈥�

Not only have her professors been wonderful, but Kalin feels immensely supported by the support staff she鈥檚 interacted with at ANU. She explains that student advisors always make sure to check in with their students. 鈥淚f you are falling behind, they’ll reach out, they’ll call, they’ll email. So they’ve made themselves available鈥� When I first was when I first started out, [my advisor] used to call me every week and she would check in just to make sure everything was ok if I had any questions or concerns.鈥� Even in times of grief of losing someone close to her, her advisor was there to help her not only get the time she needed away, but to not fall behind in her classes. When she was in a heavy moment, she didn鈥檛 think she could handle being on camera during her Zoom session, and both her advisor and professors allowed her to sit it out without affecting her attendance grade. 鈥淎nd so they were like, 鈥榠t’s ok, you don’t have to be on camera today鈥欌�� reaching out to whoever needed to be reached out to so that way that I could be covered, and I wouldn’t miss anything. And that’s important with it being 40% of that grade.鈥�

Her future goals include earning her nursing degree and becoming an RN. She explains that choosing her program now will help with that goal because 鈥渁 lot of [classes] feed right into the nursing programs and it’s still relevant. It’s not just wasted credits and time.鈥� Additionally, she hopes becoming a nurse will allow her to workday shifts rather than overnight shifts in her future, so she doesn鈥檛 have to sacrifice more time with her children and family.

Would she recommend ANU to other students? 鈥淎bsolutely. And they make it easy!鈥�

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