“I’ve been absolutely blessed and fortunate to be able to use the resources at CareerSource Northeast Florida,” said Paul Soto, a 31-year-old who gr from St. Johns River State College (SJRSC) with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree this Spring. “They have helped me to purchase books, attend classes and have helped me achieve my nursing goals from the beginning… they’ve played a pivotal role in my success.”
Originally from Maryland, Soto moved to the Jacksonville area and started his college career at Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), receiving an Associate of Arts Degree.
Soto said he heard about CareerSource Northeast Florida (CareerSource NEFL) through a fellow classmate at the time and visited an office representative working at the FSCJ campus.
With the financial help he received through CareerSource NEFL, Soto received his certification as a registered nurse (RN) in 2018 and as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in 2021.
Since receiving these two degrees, Soto has been juggling attending school full-time and working full-time as a traveling nurse.
He credits CareerSource NEFL Workforce Services Representative Lorenz Cotton with helping him not only continue to obtain Individual Training Accounts (ITA), which help people earn industry-recognized certifications like those in the healthcare field, but also with assisting him through his personal challenges.
“Mr. Lorenz Cotton is so awesome and helpful, and not only on the side of helping me financially pay for my programs but as a mentor,” Soto said.
Soto is now capping off his nursing education at SJRSC in Orange Park, where he’s completing his final semester to receive his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The BSN program takes about four years to complete, including general education requirements and nursing-specific courses.
Once he receives his BSN, Soto plans to stay in the Jacksonville area and continue in nursing while keeping an eye out in the healthcare market for more of a leadership role.
In the meantime, as he finishes his final semester, Soto says he touts the help he received through CareerSource NEFL whenever he has an opportunity.
“I just really appreciate CareerSource Northeast Florida…they’ve been great,” he said. “I can’t say enough good things about how they’ve helped me, and, to be honest, I wish everybody knew about it. I spread the word about it to my fellow classmates all the time.
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