Finding Her Strength: How UEI Helped Medical Assistant Student Build a New Future

When Kristal Juarez enrolled in the Medical Assistant (MA) program at UEI College’s Ontario campus, she wasn’t just starting a new career path. She was rebuilding her life.

For years, Kristal had devoted herself to caring for others, both personally and professionally. As a full-time caregiver, a single mother, and someone healing from a divorce, she had spent her energy making sure everyone else was okay.

Then one day, she realized she needed to do something for herself.

“I reached a point where I knew I needed change — not just for myself, but for my future,” Kristal said. “I’d spent so much time putting others first. Deep down, I knew it was time to believe in myself and invest in something that would give me a better life.”

Pointing Herself in a New Direction

Before enrolling at UEI, Kristal was working long, exhausting shifts as a caregiver and in hospital environmental services, cleaning trauma and operating rooms. The physical toll was intense, and she knew she couldn’t sustain it forever.

But more than that, she wanted to set an example for her daughters.

“Education is very important,” she said. “I didn’t want to be stuck doing labor work all my life. I wanted my daughters to see that their mom could do it. I wanted to show them that school and self-improvement matter.”

When she began researching schools, UEI stood out for one main reason: flexibility.

“As a single mother, I needed something that worked with my schedule,” Kristal said. “UEI offered a hybrid program with only two days on campus for labs, and that made all the difference. The staff really worked with me to make it possible.”

That structure allowed her to continue caregiving — sometimes working three 24-hour shifts a week — while still staying committed to school.

Kristal admits she still struggled early on as a student. Balancing motherhood, work, and school wasn’t easy, and there were moments she questioned if she could keep up. But the support she found at UEI changed that.

“Before I started, I doubted myself constantly,” she said. “But UEI helped me realize I’m capable of more than I ever imagined.”

Her instructor, Jessica Alverson, helped keep her pointed in the right direction.

“She got me through it,” Kristal said. “There were times she could tell something was wrong, and she’d pull me aside to talk. She answered every question no matter how many I had, and [she] made sure I understood everything. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be on the honor roll.”

“Kristal is one of those students who reminds you why you teach. From day one, she showed determination, compassion, and an incredible work ethic,” Ms. Alverson said. “Even when life threw challenges her way, she never gave up — she pushed harder. Watching her grow in confidence and skill has been inspiring. I have no doubt she’ll continue to make a meaningful impact in every patient’s life she touches.”

Off Into the Wild Blue Yonder

Today, Kristal is thriving in her externship at an oncology office, applying everything she learned in the classroom. She’s responsible for rooming patients, taking vitals, making phone calls, giving injections, verifying insurance, and assisting doctors.

“Everything Ms. Alverson taught me I’m using now,” Kristal said. “From the moment I stepped into her class, she told us, ‘Let’s move forward. Let’s not play games.’ And that stuck with me.”

Working with oncology patients has also deepened her sense of purpose.

“You have to have a lot of patience,” she said. “Even the smallest things make a big difference. I’ve learned that caring for people in their hardest moments is where my heart really is.”

Kristal’s time at UEI didn’t just prepare her for a job. It reignited her confidence and reshaped her vision for the future. She plans to continue in healthcare with hopes of becoming a Registered Nurse, and she’s taking an extraordinary next step: joining the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a medic.

“The Air Force gives me stability and helps with education,” she said. “They’re very supportive of single mothers, and I want to create a stable life for my kids while continuing my medical career.”

For Kristal, UEI turned out to be a foundation for her new beginning.

“UEI didn’t just prepare me for work,” she said. “It prepared me to become the woman I always dreamed of being.”

When asked what she would tell someone considering the MA program, Kristal’s answer comes straight from her experience as a new student as well as a single mother intimidated by the unknowns that lie ahead.

“Don’t be afraid,” she said. “If your heart is calling you to do something, go for it. It’s one step that can help you get where you want to be. UEI is also the best choice for single mothers. They work with your schedule, and everything you learn there, you’ll use in the field.”