Chasing Perfection: Stockton Medical Assistant Student Completes Education with a 4.0 GPA
On the day of her daughter’s surgery, Tahani Ali Asaad packed two things before leaving home: her hospital essentials and her laptop.
While her focus was certainly on comforting her child between procedures, she remained determined not to fall behind on her classes during the final week of her last UEI College course. So, while her daughter was resting, Tahani logged into her class from a quiet corner of the hospital room.
And when she had to be on campus in person for labs, she drove the two-hour round-trip to UEI College in Stockton to uphold her full commitment to her education.
“We’re not perfect humans — I’m not a perfect human — but either I do it 100 percent, or no,” Tahani said of her time as a Medical Assistant student. “It looks good on my resume, but most importantly, I know I can do it.”
That rhythm — family, caregiving, school, repeat — became her reality during her time at UEI College. And through it all, she kept every promise she made to herself.
She graduated with perfect attendance and a 4.0 GPA, achievements she fought for not because they were easy, but because she wanted to prove she could do it. Simply put, it’s a dream she wanted to chase, and she didn’t want to do it halfway.
Finding Her Moment by Creating It
Before enrolling, Tahani spent several years putting her own goals on hold. She finished high school in 2019, but family responsibilities grew quickly after that.
Her daughter faced ongoing medical challenges, and Tahani also supported her father through his many doctor’s visits. School felt important, but the timing never seemed right.
“I was always waiting for the right time,” she said. “But if you’re waiting for the right time, it never comes. So, I decided it’s time to go back.”
It was her daughter’s health journey that sparked a passion Tahani never expected: the desire to help others who were going through similar experiences.
“I never thought I would be in the medical field until my daughter,” she said. “Now, I actually love it.”
When she began looking for programs, UEI College in Stockton immediately stood out. She loved the environment, and it was easy to tell the UEI staff worked well together as a team.
“The communication, the support, the positive vibes; it made learning feel enjoyable,” she said.
As a busy parent, flexibility was essential for Tahani, and UEI delivered by allowing her to plan her education and training around her family’s unpredictable schedule.
“You can pick your own time,” she said. “For me, that made everything possible, along with the hands-on training. I don’t just learn by reading or watching. I learn by doing.”
And her instructor, Mohammad Atif, offered Tahani support when she needed it the most: during her final stretch while her daughter was in the hospital.
“He said it’s fine as long as you communicate,” she said. “Without that understanding, I couldn’t have made it with perfect attendance.”
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Just the Beginning of a Medical Career
Tahani completed her externship at an internal medicine clinic where she applied the full scope of her training: injections, EKGs, phone calls, front office tasks, back-office workflows, and daily patient interactions.
“It was a great experience,” she said. “And I got good responses from patients, which meant a lot. If they’re speaking highly of you, that means you’re doing something right.”
Now officially graduated, she’s actively applying for medical assistant positions, hoping to find something close to Stockton. In the meantime, she remains proud of how far she’s come. And she has even bigger goals in mind.
She wants to become gain experience, and eventually return to school to pursue ultrasound technology.
“I always believe in chasing a dream,” she said. “It’s never too late. With faith, hope, and determination, you can do anything.”
To anyone considering the MA program, Tahani offers the advice she herself lived by.
“It’s never too late,” she said. “Some people think it is — especially people in their 30s or 40s — but timing doesn’t matter. You can always start.”
Despite her success, Tahani’s journey wasn’t easy, but every challenge strengthened her resolve. From hospital hallways to classroom success, she stayed resilient while reminding herself that it’s never too late to rewrite your future.
“This is only the beginning,” she said, then added: “My family has supported me all the time. Without them, I couldn’t have done this.”
