From New to Canada to New Medical Lab Technician Career – Student Insights

Rhodelyn’s family arrived in Canada in 2020, in the midst of COVID. But instead of challenges she saw possibility – to engage in a healthcare training program, to expand her knowledge and get hands-on experience in a medical lab, complete her certifications and pursue her dream of working in the medical field.

Little did she know the life-changing experience and dream career it would lead to … but she did hope and set her sights on that amazing goal.

After encouragement from a friend and reading positive reviews on social media, Rhodelyn chose Anderson College and the Medical Laboratory Technician program to achieve her medical technician certification. But, as she shared in an interview we had with her, “… it was not an easy journey for me because I had to be a full-time student, a part-time worker, a mother, and a wife, all at the same time.”

This is not an untypical situation for our Anderson students. Our students juggle a lot, dream big, and persevere amid myriad, unique challenges. Our goal is to ensure those exploring our programs feel supported and to walk them through the process, so it feels exciting rather than daunting. Rhodelyn said that the process for her to start the program “was a quick [one] because Mirella helped me with the registration. She just asked me about the assessment, walked me through, and I passed it. Then I visited the Anderson College campus, and that was that the start of my enrollment.”

Rhodelyn has appreciated all aspects of her medical lab technician course, but she did say, “I especially liked the laboratory part. Since it was COVID, we first started with the online classes, and then after a few months, we were finally back in a real-life environment, and it was a great. Learning online was not easy because you had to … deal with a lot of responsibilities, like being a worker and mom. But with the help of the instructors, it was an amazing experience.”

We’re grateful that she truly felt and shared that “Anderson’s instructors and staff were approachable and guided me throughout the program. Mirella, Simona and Tonmoy as well were very helpful to me. Every time I had queries, they always answered me … And I remember, there was a situation when I had a problem regarding my grade. I asked Marjorie from Student Services about it, and she responded to me quickly. It was a great honor and privilege to be one of Anderson College’s students.

Clearly the educational part was rewarding for Rhodelyn, but the goal of every student is really the dream career that hopefully comes at the end, and finding ways to stand out during the interview process and land it.

Rhodelyn shared this with us. “It is a huge help when you pass the certification exams. I passed the MLPAO certification, and, actually, during my job interview, one of the managers asked me if I got it, and I could say “Yes!”. Before the examination, Rafik, our Program Chair, helped us to do the reviews on Saturdays…that helped a lot.”

And what about the job? Rhodelyn said, “Anderson provided great help! A few months after graduation, I got hired at the University Health Network as an ECG technician! And I believe it’s because of the skills, knowledge, and experience that I gained from this school that helped me stand out. And for that, I would like to say thank you to Anderson College for making a huge difference in my life.”

Rhodelyn had some advice for those of you considering the next step in your educational adventure …
“Before you start the program, you should know about what you love. For example, you need to know if you are passionate about taking care of and helping people and giving new hope to their lives. A desire to make a difference in a patient’s life is very important if you want to work in healthcare.”

And her final words for us, “I just want to say thank you to Anderson College. You know, they made a huge difference in my life and thanks to them I already started my career.”

We are honoured to have had Rhodelyn in our program and as part of the Anderson family and we are thrilled that she has persevered and found success! Perhaps you’re ready for the next step.

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Interested in a Medical Laboratory Technician career too? Learn more about our course here, or explore one of our 30+ leading-edge programs! Book a virtual appointment with our Admissions Team today!