Growing up, McAllen resident Camila Sanchez’s father always told her she could be anything she wanted to be. As her career goals developed, she realized she wanted to be a physical therapist assistant.
Sanchez loves being a student because she genuinely enjoys learning and challenging herself. She enrolled in the PTA program at South Texas College in Fall 2020 but her road to what she wanted included roadblocks. In Spring 2021, she dropped out of the program because the mandatory online learning at the time is not a strength of hers. She also had ongoing personal issues at the time.
“After I withdrew from the PTA program in 2021, I felt immediate regret,” Sanchez said. Now a single mother with a son under the age of 1, her resolve to complete school has strengthened. “Now that I have my son to support, I have tunnel vision, and I will create a career for myself to build a better life for my son and me.”
One day, someone mentioned Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement to Sanchez, so she decided to look into the nonprofit organization. For nearly 30 years, VIDA has provided resources and a proven method of support to help individuals overcome the roadblocks that prevent them from completing certificates and degrees. VIDA statistics show the success of their wraparound approach, measured by the number of program participants who have completed their education and who have moved out of poverty and public assistance and into high-skill, high-demand, high-wage jobs.
Sanchez applied to VIDA and gained acceptance in October of 2022. For Sanchez, who currently works as a bartender at a local restaurant, VIDA’s significant financial assistance, as well as the academic and emotional support she receives from her VIDA case manager/career counselor, has completely changed her academic trajectory.
With a projected graduation date of Spring 2025, Sanchez has already set her sights on what lies ahead for her and her son.
“I plan to look for work here in the RGV area first, in order to gain more experience,” Sanchez said. “I would love to move away, live in a bigger city and experience life somewhere outside of my hometown for once.”
She continued, “I want to travel with my son. I have thought about working as a PTA for a few years and perhaps applying to a Doctor of Physical Therapy program upstate to further my career.”
Sanchez knows her father was correct about becoming anything she wanted. With VIDA’s assistance, that is exactly what she is pursing.