Monica Aviles – From Human Care to Animal Care
Monica Aviles loved working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). She’d always wanted to help others and what better way than assisting patients, especially the elderly? For more than seven years, she happily provided care and comfort to her patients and their families. But when her own grandmother needed her help and later passed away, it changed the way she looked at her profession and her life.
“My grandma’s death just hit me differently,” says Monica. “Being a caregiver wasn’t the same for me after that.” Monica explains.
Monica didn’t know what she would do next, but knew she needed a career change. She started scrolling through Indeed and one career path kept popping up: Veterinary Assistant. She had always loved animals—has two dogs of her own—so maybe animal care was a route she could take next.
Learning How to Be a Veterinary Assistant
“I thought to myself,” what better way to stay in medicine than working with peoples’ pets,’” Monica says. “I still get to help people by helping their fur babies.”
But Monica understood that she would need training and experience to transition from one career to another. She searched for schools and found Charter College’s Oxnard Campus and the Veterinary Assistant Program. Because of its positive reviews, 10-month program length, and the hybrid learning, Monica felt like she found a perfect fit.
“I was like, OK, I’ll give it a shot,” says Monica, “and I fell in love with it. It was a really good school.”
Monica said the hands-on learning approach that Charter College provides students was really helpful. Whether it was a procedure or the memorization of medical terminology, Monica felt that what she and her fellow students were learning resembled the real world. And her teachers emphasized the importance of professionalism, like always being punctual and doing a good job.
Monica’s externship at Doctor Ron’s Animal Hospital also played a part in her career training. She loved the fast-paced environment and that feeling of being thrown in and having her knowledge put to the test. Monica’s education from Charter helped her thrive in that setting and she gained invaluable experience.
What was especially important to Monica was Charter’s blended learning. Monica was still working full-time when she started her program and juggling school and work could be a challenge, but the flexible classroom schedule made completing the program possible.
“It was kind of difficult sometimes because I obviously had to prioritize work because that’s what was paying for me to go to school,” says Monica, “but I felt with Charter and only having two days on campus, I could manage my work schedule. And campus was also open at night so me and my classmates could go and finish all our work then.”
Charter College Veterinary Assistant Faculty Stepping Up
Monica says that one of the reasons she was able to do so well at school was because the Charter College faculty and staff were very helpful and encouraging.
“I really appreciated how even when we didn’t have class, we could come in and get our work done,” says Monica. “And sometimes our teachers were there so we could just ask them for help or clarification on something. They wouldn’t mind. And they provided virtual office hours. I lived all the way in Simi Valley and had a long commute so if I couldn’t go in, they would definitely work with me.”
According to Monica, the instructors provided their emails and phone numbers so students could get in touch. Even after she graduated, Monica says her teachers have kept in touch. She says that they check in to make sure she understands the tasks of her job and regularly ask if she needs help.
Monica says the teachers at Charter are still “very supportive. And I’m not even a student anymore. I really appreciate that.”
Becoming a Vet Assistant in Oregon
Although Monica had a job offer from her externship, she had to turn it down so she and her wife could move to Oregon to be closer to family.
“I was kind of scared that my certification wasn’t going to transfer over,” says Monica, “but they actually appreciated it more. And they saw how much knowledge I have and are already training me for a lead position.”
Monica works as a Veterinary Assistant for Tigard Animal Hospital, where she puts the training she got at Charter College to great use.
“And if I stay with them for a year,” says Monica, “especially if they see growth, they will send me for further training and school.”
Thanking the Charter Family and Her Own
Monica loves her new role, her new home, and her new life, and she knows she had a lot of help getting to where she is. She says her parents raised her to be motivated and independent and her wife was incredibly supportive as she transitioned to a new career.
“She really had to hold the fort up,” says Monica, “especially when I went to externship, and I had to quit my job. She’s been supporting me through this whole journey.”
And Monica said her classmates were fantastic and they’re all crushing their own careers.
“I appreciate all of them and their journey,” says Monica.
Looking ahead, Monica is contemplating further education, potentially pursuing a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) certification or even a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. Regardless of what she decides, Monica feels that Charter College has played an important role in developing her education and provided her with the knowledge and confidence to pursue her dream.
Do you want to hear more about Charter College students and their learning experiences? Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form.