A Promise Renewed: Sacramento Student Circles Back to Her Calling in Healthcare

Twenty-five years ago, Jualita Pena tried to start a new chapter in her life. Eager to take her first step toward a healthcare career, she enrolled in a medical assisting program.

But life had other plans.

As a young mom, she made the difficult choice to put school on hold so she could focus on raising her child and supporting her family. Years passed, but she never lost her desire to care for others.

“I always had this drive in me to help people, especially the elderly and the sick,” Jualita said. “I just didn’t know how to turn that into a career back then.”

When her grandmother fell ill in 2022, however, everything changed. Her experience caring for her grandma leading up to her passing reignited the passion she’d once had for healthcare. It also reminded her why compassion matters just as much as clinical skill.

Armed with the newfound motivation, Jualita enrolled in the Medical Assistant program in UEI College in Sacramento with an eye toward turning lifelong desire to help others into a meaningful career.

The Experience That Changed Everything

When her grandmother got sick, Jualita’s path came full circle.

Her grandmother had always been her rock — her biggest supporter and source of strength — so watching her health decline from congestive heart failure was heartbreaking. But it also lit a fire in Jualita.

“I would be there with her all the time, and I would see how people treated her,” she said. “Some were so kind, and others just rushed through. It made me want to get further into healthcare to be that person who took the time to listen and show compassion.”

One memory in particular stands out for Jualita.

“When I was 17, my grandmother was sick, and a medical assistant came into her room,” she recalled. “She called my grandma by name, spoke gently, and made her laugh when no one else could. I realized then that compassion could be a kind of medicine too.”

That experience stayed with her for decades. So, when her grandmother’s health declined years later, it was as though that teenage spark found the fuel it needed to reignite.

“Before she passed away, my grandmother encouraged me to go back to school,” Jualita said. “She told me I could do it. I wanted to make her proud, and I wanted to be there for others the way that medical assistant had been there for her.”

Knowing it was time to finish what she’d started years before, Jualita looked for a program that could fit into her life and help her finally achieve her goal. That’s when she found UEI College in Sacramento.

“It was close to home, and the program wasn’t too long,” she said. “I felt like it was the right time, and UEI was the right place.”

Working Back Toward Her Goal

From her very first day at UEI College, she knew she’d made the right choice.

“I had a great experience,” she said. “The teachers were amazing, and I got so much hands-on training. It made me more aware, not just of health issues in the world, but of my own health too.”

Two instructors in particular stood out: Ashley Bishop and Angel Washington.

“They were the best,” Jualita said. “They were so caring, and they explained things in ways that really made sense. I got discouraged a few times, but they kept me on track. I’m so glad they did because now I’m doing great at my externship.”

“Jualita is the kind of student every instructor hopes to teach. She shows up with determination, kindness, and a genuine desire to grow,” Ms. Bishop said. “Her work ethic is remarkable, and she consistently goes above and beyond expectations. Watching her confidence develop has been one of the highlights of my time here. She has been a natural leader and works with integrity and grit but with a compassionate heart.”

Ms. Washington agrees that Jualita is a stand-out student.

“Jualita brings dedication and positivity to everything she does,” she said. “Her growth and commitment have truly impressed me. She approaches challenges with such resilience and grace, and she supports her classmates with real compassion. I’m incredibly proud of how far she has come — and excited to see what she accomplishes next.”

Jualita completed her externship at an urgent care clinic, where she said she thrived in the fast-paced environment.

“I worked with great people,” she said. “Every day, I got to learn something new and help patients who come in scared or in pain. I tried to be that comforting voice for them.”

Her long-term goal is to work in hospice care, supporting patients and families during life’s most difficult moments.

“My main purpose in life is helping the elderly and the sick,” she said. “I honestly feel that nobody deserves to die alone. Sometimes, just being there to listen is what people need most.”

Now graduated, if she doesn’t find a hospice position, she plans to continue her education to deepen her knowledge in that area.

“I want to understand how hospice care really works, so I can help in the best way possible,” she said.

Jualita is ready for whatever opportunities open for her. She’s excited to continue learning from experienced professionals, growing in confidence, and finding joy in the everyday moments that make healthcare so meaningful.

“Every patient I meet reminds me of my grandmother,” she said. “And I treat them with the same gentleness I wished for her. Sometimes, healing begins with a helping hand and a kind heart.”

“Graduation wasn’t just about finishing,” she added. “It’s about becoming the person I was always meant to be.”