Growing up, life has been difficult for Cheynna Herrer, but after having her first child, she learned the importance of loving herself, staying busy, and proving the doubters wrong, with some help from career training at UEI College in Fresno.
Cheynna spent her early years bouncing in and out of foster care and living with different family members as her mother struggled with a drug addiction. In high school, she and her brother ended up living under a tarp, outside the home where her mother lived with a boyfriend.
“We did that for a while and dropped out of school because in the winter time it would rain and all our clothes would get rained on or moldy,” she said. “It was hard growing up. We didn’t have anywhere else to go.”
Despite her difficult upbringing, there were some moments of light. Cheynna was able to graduate high school with the help of a compassionate school counselor who took her in. After high school she worked as a caretaker and developed an appreciation for the medical field–but life’s challenges didn’t go away. After losing everything in a fire, Cheynna moved in with her boyfriend and soon after realizing they were not a fit as a couple, she discovered she was pregnant. A few months after having her baby, she made a difficult choice to leave.
“Having my son really saved me,” she said. “If I didn’t have him to take care of, I don’t know where I would be. I know what it feels like to not be chosen by my mother. I will never let my son feel that. He really helped me out a lot.”
In a new town, Cheynna didn’t know anyone but her aunt and uncle. The loneliness was overwhelming.
“I found myself drinking and smoking by myself. I didn’t know if I was heartbroken or depressed. I was just doing it and crying,” she said. “One day my uncle asked me if I was depressed. I had never thought about it, but I was. I knew I needed an outlet.”
Cheynna came across UEI College in Fresno. She knew she needed something good to occupy her time. She also knew she had enjoyed working in the medical field in the past. The school was two hours from her home, but she took a chance and signed up for the Medical Assisting program.
“My whole family did caregiving,” she said. “They would take us with them and I feel like I know what it takes and what to do. It takes certain people to know how to take care of others. Not a lot of people can do that. I love the hands-on experiences at UEI and the people and instructors. They are all great.”
Through the program Cheynna was able to build on her caretaking skills, but she also found community for herself.
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“A lot of people have different stories when they go to UEI,” she said. “We’re all there for each other. Learning together is a big part of it. When I was doing bad in the past, I felt like nobody cared. But I’ve realized it’s time for me to care about myself.”
What Cheynna has appreciated most is the opportunities UEI has given her. Even on days when she struggled with childcare or transportation, she always felt like the staff at school were willing to work with her.
“They understand where people come from. They know life is not easy. Talking to them is easy,” she said.
Now, Cheynna feels like she has a plan for her future and the support she needs to reach it.
“Don’t stop until you are where you want to be in life. If you stop that gives other people the satisfaction,” she said. “When it comes to school, what else do you have to lose? Give it a chance. I was scared to go because I didn’t want to be put in debt. You only have one life and you’ve got to do it right. Sometimes those chances change everything.”
