Deborah Mendoza, now 36, says she has worked since she was about 15 years old – and continued working full-time once she graduated from high school and became a working mother.
“I had kids and had to work full time, so at that time, I really didn’t have a chance to go back to school and further my education,” she said.
While looking for those early full-time positions, Mendoza became acquainted with CareerSource Northeast Florida.
“I had heard about scholarships that were available for certain positions, but it never really occurred to me that I would be eligible for any type of scholarship help from the organization,” she said.
Within a few years, Mendoza made her way back to college – attending full-time at St. Johns River State College – when she was accepted into the nursing program in 2020.
“I had gotten to the point where I knew that I couldn’t work anymore and go through the clinicals and do well with all of my classes…which had really high expectations,” she said. “I was worried about how I would pay for my classes. When I contacted the school and let them know of the situation, they referred me to CareerSource NEFL’s office in Palatka.”
That’s where Mendoza first met Tammie Jackson, a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Case Manager with the organization, who helped her apply for financial assistance.
“Tammie was so helpful,” she said. “Tammie walked me through the application process and helped me get all the paperwork I needed for the scholarship. Once I got approved for a scholarship, it was just a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders. With that help, I could actually afford to focus on my classes and not worry about how I going to pay for it.”
Mendoza recently finished her state licensing exam, received her RN (registered nurse) license and is now working with Hospice. Mendoza lives in Interlachen and works with Hospice in Palatka and Gainesville.
“Now, I’m able to actually connect with my patients and make a difference in the world,” she said. “I had a bit of a different childhood from most people. My parents passed away when I was young, so that’s why I wanted to go into nursing…I saw the difference that nurses can make with people in their final moments.”
With the change in her professional career and lifestyle came through the help she received from CareerSource NEFL. Mendoza says she refers people in a similar situation to reach out to the organization for help.
“I have already recommended CareerSource Northeast Florida to so many people,” she said. “I tell them that if they don’t know where to turn, turn to them. They can really help you get back to school, they can help you find a job that can help you make the life you want. This may not seem like a big deal to everyone, but I worked a lot of minimum wage jobs. With their help, I’m no longer living paycheck-to-paycheck. It’s been such a huge change for me and my family.”