A Degree and A Proposal – Machele Jackson’s Dreams Came True
A Degree and A Proposal – Machele Jackson’s Dreams Came True
Machele Jackson first attended a Peirce College Commencement as a proud family member in the audience. As Machele watched her sister walk across the Kimmel Center Stage, she felt a sense of desire to also achieve this milestone. This was when Machele knew it was time to head back to school.
As the age of 30 quickly approached, Machele found herself working a job that was not aligned with her true passion. Machele knew she wanted to pursue a career in medical coding, but was never sure how to make the transition. Once her sister encouraged her to invest in her future by attending Peirce and then, furthermore, after discovering the healthcare programs offered, Machele was sold and never looked back.
Machele joined the Peirce community in January 2015 by enrolling in the Health Information Technology program, which would allow for her to finally be on the path to her dream career. Machele said, “I gained so much from this degree program; from a better working knowledge of medical coding to developing many new relationships. Most importantly, I have gained a better sense of who I am and became extremely marketable to employers.”
In addition to the new personal and professional skills, Machele said, “I value the flexibility of Peirce College as well as the consistent involvement from the professors. The professors always seem to understand and respect you are an adult with responsibilities, but, yet they continue to encourage you to push yourself!”
Machele was able to find her success with Peirce and as of June 2018 she was now the one crossing the stage of the Kimmel Center earning her Associate in Science in Health Information Technology.
As if the night of commencement was not already exciting enough for Machele, she had another big surprise waiting for her as soon as the ceremony concluded. Once in the lobby of the Kimmel Center where family and friends gathered to celebrate her successes, her boyfriend, Robert Forrest, got down on one knee and asked for her hand in marriage! Machele said, “I was completely taken back and even more overwhelmed. We have been together for 18 years come this November; we are high school sweethearts.”
Machele said this special moment was the perfect ending to a perfect night for both of them. Robert is not only now Machele’s fiancé, but he has been her constant support system throughout her college journey. “Robert has spent a lot of his time making sure that I made test deadlines and stayed awake to complete assignments. He definitely deserves some of the credit for my successes because he was by my side every step of the way. I am glad that he was able to enjoy this moment as much as me,” explained Machele.
As Machele now prepares for planning a wedding, she still has her career goals in focus. As a Supervisor for Veterans Administration in Philadelphia, Machele said she has already been able to directly apply what she learned and gained at Peirce to her current position. Machele hopes to continue to grow into management one day with her new skills and degree.
Congratulations to Machele on graduation and her recent engagement! We wish her nothing but a lifetime of success and happiness as she continues chasing her dreams.
Check back in throughout the summer as we continue to feature and share some of the Class of 2018’s inspirational stories.
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