For years, Lucia dreamed of entering the healthcare field. Despite numerous obstacles and fears, she persisted, determined to achieve her career aspirations and provide for her children. Lucia Magana is now a proud graduate of Opportunity Junction’s (OJ) first Medical Assistant (MA) cohort and the first in her class to secure a job offer.
Lucia’s journey to become a Medical Assistant began in 2010, but was cut short when her school unexpectedly shut down, leaving her unable to complete her certificate. Discouraged, she took a job at a restaurant to get by until complications during her first pregnancy prompted her to become a stay-at-home mom.
As a mother of two young children, Lucia expressed, “Being a mom to my little ones has always been the most important thing to me. My goal is to provide for them.” After a few years, she knew she wanted to get back to work, but didn’t know what she wanted to do.
In 2024, while picking her daughter up from daycare, she stumbled upon a flyer about Opportunity Junction, which would change the course of her life. OJ’s no-cost Medical Assistant training program gave her a fresh opportunity to follow her passion. Lucia explained, “I was always scared to go back to school. I was worried that something would prevent me from finishing again.”
The wraparound support from Opportunity Junction made Lucia feel at ease. “April (OJ’s Healthcare Career Pathway Program Manager) was incredibly helpful and easy to talk to,” she shared. “She made the whole process smoother, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity OJ gave me.”
With the program’s guidance, she gained the skills and confidence to excel during her externship at Brighter Beginnings, despite feeling nervous about entering the healthcare field for the first time. Her strong performance during the externship resulted in an exciting job offer from BASS Medical.
“I’m so excited to be back in the workforce, and I love every aspect of my job,” she said. Now working as a Medical Assistant, Lucia is thriving. She is being cross-trained in all areas. She is working both front and back office operations, allowing her to offer patients a warm welcome while also handling clinical tasks she enjoys like taking vitals.
Her new role not only brings her personal satisfaction but has also transformed her family’s financial situation. Lucia now earns over 75% more than she did in her previous job, providing much-needed stability. “The increase in pay has made such a difference,” she shared. “Everything is so expensive these days, but now I can bring money home to my family and feel good about it. We finally have a little bit of wiggle room to do fun things together and make memories.”
Thanks to Opportunity Junction, Lucia has found a career she loves and a future that feels secure for both herself and her family.
