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6 <br /> Success Story <br /> JP was struggling to pay for the expenses of nursing school at Durham Tech when a <br /> fellow student told her about JOCCA/JTPA. JP was a 40-year old single parent of two <br /> teenagers. She relied on food stamps,AFDC and housing to provide for the needs of her <br /> family. JP was very dissatisfied with her station in life. She knew that she was capable <br /> of so much more. JP set a goal to break free of welfare and show her children that <br /> education is the key to having a satisfying and profitable career and future. JP's sincerity <br /> and commitment were manifest by the excellent grades that she had earned her first year <br /> at Durham Tech. JTPA began assisting JP with her educational expenses in September of <br /> 1995. JP continued to excel in her training. In June of 1996 JP completed the Durham <br /> Tech RN Nursing program and was scheduled to take the exam for licensure in August <br /> 1996. JP learned she had passed the board exam in September 1996. In October 1996 <br /> she accepted employment with Wake Medical Center as a surgical nurse. She earns$20 <br /> an hour plus retirement and benefits and is happy to say that she is now self sufficient. <br /> MP was referred to JOCCA/JTPA by her JOBS caseworker. At that time,MP had <br /> recently dropped out of college at UNC-Ch due to an unplanned pregnancy. MP choose <br /> to apply for government assistance to support herself and her baby rather than to return <br /> home as a burden and disappointment to her family. MP was determined that her welfare <br /> dependency would be short lived. With the assistance of JOBS and JTPA,MP entered <br /> DTCC in the fall of 1994 seeking a degree in computer programming. With the ` <br /> responsibility of caring for her son and working a part time job. MP managed to make <br /> the Dean's List that first quarter and every quarter thereafter. In recognition of her <br /> academic excellence,MP was inducted into the Gamma Beta Phi society in May of 1995. <br /> In June of the same year,MP was privileged to be elected secretary of the honor society. <br /> In lieu of the changing technological needs of the work force, MP changed her major <br /> from Computer Programming to Microcomputer systems support. To maximize her <br /> career opportunities,MP augmented her DTCC training by pursuing Certified Novell <br /> Engineering training at Accelerated Computer Education. MP earned an Associate <br /> Degree in Microcomputer Systems Support and became a Novell-certified Engineer by <br /> the end of the Summer quarter of 1996•-In August of 1996 MP was hired as a computer <br /> administrator by UNC-CH at an hourly wage of$12.73,plus an extensive reteirement <br /> benefits package. Today MP and her 4-year-old son are completely independent of <br /> welfare assistance. <br />