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Students describe life change after El Monte Rosemead Adult School programs
Summary
Three MRAS students told the board how low-cost, accredited training and hands-on externships led to certifications, externship placements and jobs — one student said he earned a position at Kaiser less than a year after starting the program.
Three MRAS students spoke to the board about how adult-school training changed their careers and family prospects. Matthew Santiago described enrolling at the program for a small registration fee and moving through externships to secure a job at Kaiser; Maria del Carmen Perez recounted retraining after a layoff and helping push family members into English and career programs; Susanti Kusumali described progressing from ESL to CTE and performing a student-produced song for the board.
Santiago told trustees he registered for the program at a low cost and completed clinical lab work, externships and the national exam in short order. "I came in right when I turned 18 ... I passed my nationals and eventually got hired at Kaiser Fontana," he said. Maria Perez described being one of 17 starters who completed the cohort and the cohort camaraderie that supported their success; she credited instructors and campus staff with making the experience welcoming for adult learners.
Trustees said the personal stories provide strong evidence for additional outreach and legislative advocacy on behalf of MRAS. Several board members suggested using graduates as ambassadors for outreach to families who may not understand program benefits or who worry that the compressed or accelerated format could harm transcripts; presenters clarified students may choose not to have summer-academy grades posted to their transcripts when offered the option.
