So often, we celebrate huge stories of success — the student who pulled themselves out of addiction or homelessness, the high-achieving student headed to an Ivy League university on a full ride, the student author that landed a book deal.
Those are great stories, and I love them as much as anyone.
What gets less attention are all the amazing individuals who took a huge leap just to get their foot in the door. I’m talking about the people who complete a short certificate at Centralia College. These certificates are offered as career and technical programs and are intended to get adults into jobs quickly. Certificates of completion can typically be completed in a few months. certificates of proficiency take about a year.
For adults struggling with poverty, underemployment, homelessness, divorce or other major setbacks, a short certificate can provide just enough of a boost to find stability and security. Certificates are offered in commercial driving, early childhood education, welding, phlebotomy, accounting, industrial trades, office applications, medical administrative assistant and medical scribe. These are good, stable jobs that yield experience, higher wages, stable hours and pathways for advancement.
And completing a short certificate makes it easier to come back to college for even more training if you want it later. So many students get the entry-level job and then return to pick away at an associate or bachelor’s degree, taking the time they need to work, care for homes and families and live their lives.
For those who think they can’t afford to earn a certificate, come in, tell us your story and let’s find the money. There are a ton of programs to help adults into new careers. There’s worker retraining funds, state grants, financial aid and specialized programs for those receiving benefits from the Department of Social and Health Services. A great place to start is the Workforce Funding Office at the corner of Centralia College Boulevard and Rock Street. Come into room 101 and sit down with one of our amazing staff. They’re warm and welcoming, and they’ve heard it all. They’re uniquely able to help students facing all kinds of challenges and they know how to get things done.
We’re open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday until Labor Day.
Now is a great time to get started.
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Bob Mohrbacher is president of Centralia College.
