July 2024 update: I received my acceptance letter from Shoreline Community College in the Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) program starting this Fall Quarter of 2024. It's been a long road to get this far, but I am glad I never gave up. In the Spring Quarter of 2024, I had to take four MLT classes for some required prerequisites that included Clinical Laboratory Science with laboratory work, Clinical Laboratory Mathematics, and a class on preparing to find employment as an MLT once I graduate and get licensed. I received three Bs and one A for those classes.

I am very excited about this program, so I can learn more about laboratory testing and science with hands-on experience. As soon as I can find employment, I can start working on my bachelor's degree to become a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS), where I can do more diagnostic laboratory testing, such as molecular biology or flow cytometry. My experience as a laboratory assistant and a Non-Registered Technician has helped me to start on my next chapter in my life. I will update more about it once I start on the MLT program. Wish me luck.

March 2021 update: I finally finished all of my pre-requisites for my career change. I did to have repeat Anatomy and Physiology I and II, so I could get better grades than the first time around. I did very well for my second attempt. These classes are very difficult because there is so much material to study for, and you have to go through all the major systems of the human body in a lot of detail. As a result, I received a B and B-plus for each class, respectively. If you ever take those classes, you have to study every single day because cramming does not work for these advanced biology classes.

After finishing these classes, I decided to go from nursing to radiology technology instead. I believe that would be a better fit for me since I prefer technology that can help diagnose people with different conditions. Besides taking X-Rays, I can expand my career path by learning Ultrasound, CT-Scans, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Some employers will help you get into those other fields. Now I am preparing for the application process to get into that two-year program at Bellevue College. They are the only local community college that has it. I am hoping when this pandemic is over that I can visit the college for guidance in finishing everything. Doing this work online is very difficult, and I believe in visiting and talking to the people at the college to make sure I do everything correctly such as writing the personal statement for the application process.

Lastly, I also received both doses of the Moderna vaccine, and I feel much happier that I got them. Less than a month, I will have another birthday, and I will be turning 57 years old. It's true what they say that time does go fast. Stay safe and get vaccinated if you can.