Brenda Gomez
Age: 21
Hometown: Hopewell, VA
Region: Philadelphia
Center: Blue Ridge
Dates enrolled: 9/15/2018 – 7/1/20
Training: Clinical Medical Assistant

“I grew up in a home where my parents provided a great example of work ethic,” explained Blue Ridge Job Corps graduate Brenda Gomez. “See how hard they worked to provide for our family instilled in me that same drive to put in the effort to earn the life I wanted to live and the career I wanted to have.” When she graduated high school and started looking towards her next steps, she struggled to find an option that worked for her. As a recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) benefits, Brenda in not eligible to receive financial aid for college. She wanted to further her education beyond high school, but she could not afford to pay for college herself. Her diligent searching paid off once she discovered Job Corps, and learned that she was eligible for the tuition from program requiring no financial aid.
Brenda arrived at Blue Ridge Job Corps in September, 2018, and began working towards a clinical medical assistant certification. She also participated in the Student Government Association, serving two terms. Additionally, Brenda participated in community service activities such as assisting at the Atkins Food Pantry.
In July, 2020, Brenda graduated from the program with her CCMA certification, and began her job search during a once in a lifetime pandemic. “It was very difficult to find a job during COVID-19,” she stated, “many healthcare providers were not taking on any new staff and even placing some of their current staff on unemployment.” Eventually her persistent job search paid off, as she accepted a full-time position last winter for Capital Area Health Network (CAHN) in Richmond, VA, where she works as a Bilingual Medical Assistant.
“Put your whole heart into your work, and believe in yourself and in your future,” she advised.