Finding Success After Setbacks: Medical Assistant Student Finds Her Calling at UEI Dallas
When Vanessa Williams walks into a room, you notice her. She’s bubbly, outspoken, inquisitive, and full of energy — the kind of personality that can light up a classroom.
Behind this brightness is a story of resilience, second chances, and determination. And as a current Medical Assistant student at United Education Institute (UEI) in Dallas, Vanessa is learning how to turn her passion for caregiving into a career she loves.
This journey didn’t begin smoothly, however. After high school, Vanessa enrolled in college but admits she wasn’t ready.
“I got into some trouble and had to go to jail,” she said. “When I got out, I had the option to go back [to school], but I wasn’t prepared then. I didn’t think I was ready for the responsibility.”
Instead, Vanessa began working in home healthcare.
Caring for others came naturally to her as she spent a lot of time caring for her foster mother, who adopted her when she was 13. Her foster mom has battled diabetes and heart problems, and Vanessa’s experience helping her only deepened her commitment to the healthcare field.
“I really wanted to know how to take care of her,” she said. “I didn’t want to lose her, so I wanted to really understand medically what she was going through and how to make her more comfortable.
That experience, combined with her desire to earn the certifications and training she’d need to grow in the healthcare field, eventually led Vanessa to UEI College.
Interested In Our Medical Assistant Program? CLICK HERE >
Finding the Right Place for Career Training
Vanessa had researched schools for years, hoping for the right fit while never quite finding it. She even began the enrollment process at another institution before discovering UEI.
“The moment I learned about UEI, I stopped in my tracks,” she said. “It felt like God and my late birth mother were saying, ‘This is the one.’ The school is even located on the same street as where my biological mom lived before she passed. That meant something special to me.”
What sealed the deal for Vanessa were five non-negotiables: hands-on training, good location, accreditation, ideal program length, and a good learning environment. UEI checked every box.
“I’m a hands-on learner,” she said. “I need to be able to touch and feel, ask questions, and get clear answers. From the first phone call to the first meeting, I felt safe to let my guard down. I knew I was in the right place.”
Vanessa enrolled at UEI, determined not to repeat the mistakes of her younger years. She reduced her work schedule from six days a week to four so she could give her studies her fullest possible attention.
Her efforts paid off. For the first time in her life, she became an honor-roll student. She’s earned Student of the Month every month since she started, and most recently, she achieved her goal of receiving the prestigious Presidential Award.
“School is amazing,” Vanessa said. “I’m learning and teaching and learning again. I’ve never been this confident in my whole life. I used to use my pain as an excuse not to live, but now I use it to help others. I know I can do anything.”
The Power of Community
Vanessa says much of her success comes from the supportive environment she’s found at UEI.
“My classmates are the best,” she said. “We learn together, help each other, and there’s no judgment. I call them family. And my instructors — Ms. Shannon Bria and Ms. Jessica Blades — they’re the best teachers ever. They believe in me, challenge me, and prepare me for the future.”
For Vanessa, UEI is more than a school. It’s a place of positivity, encouragement, and hope.
“This school gave me my confidence back,” she said. “I didn’t think school could be the experience it is right now. But I’m doing it, and UEI makes me feel like I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.”
Following her externship, Vanessa will officially graduate as a Medical Assistant. She plans to continue her education to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), but her dreams go even further. She hopes to start a podcast and a book one day, sharing her story to motivate others.
Her advice to future students?
“Keep pushing and don’t give up on yourself,” she said. “Surround yourself with positivity and the right people, because here at UEI, you’ll find them. I’d also say that if you need anything call me. I’ll be there for anybody who needs some support.”
