Ah’dyssey Carter

Ah’dyssey Carter lives in Belleville, Illinois, and for a long time she carried a quiet desire to work in healthcare. She wanted it, but she did not always know the steps to get there. Like many people, she second-guessed herself and talked herself out of starting. Then one day she did something simple that changed everything. She searched online for CNA programs near her and found Midwest Career Source.

What happened next felt different right away. When Ah’dyssey walked into the building, she says she felt warmth. She met Barbara Moore and, for the first time, felt like someone was truly willing to guide her through the process. The support was patient, personal, and steady. That mattered to Ah’dyssey, especially after experiences elsewhere that had felt rushed and impersonal.

She took the interest exam in February and began the apprenticeship in April. She started on April 7 and graduated on May 23. The pace was fast, but the experience fit her life. The schedule aligned, the commute was manageable, and the encouragement was constant.

Why Registered Apprenticeship?

Ah’dyssey did not enter the program as someone who had always been certain about healthcare. Earlier in her career, she had worked in emergency room registration for nearly two years and loved it. Over time, she picked up too many shifts and burned out. She stepped away and tried something completely different at a car dealership. That detour gave her clarity. She missed healthcare, missed the purpose, and missed being part of a team that helps people when they are vulnerable.

Registered Apprenticeship gave her a way back in, with structure and support. She appreciated knowing she would have a job while she trained. In her words, it felt like she could focus on learning because the pathway and the next step were already in place.

Learning in the Real Environment

Ah’dyssey completed her apprenticeship training through Midwest Career Source at BJC Memorial Hospital Shiloh and then became fully employed as a patient care technician. The PCT role is similar to a CNA, and in a hospital setting it can include additional responsibilities. For Ah’dyssey, the hospital environment is where she thrives. She likes the pace, the purpose, and the patient connection.

Not long after starting, she was recognized as Employee of the Month, only about two months into the job. For Ah’dyssey, the award confirmed what she was beginning to believe about herself. She belonged in this work.

Finding Confidence and Protecting Her Name

Like many apprentices, Ah’dyssey faced barriers that had nothing to do with her ability to learn the skills. Her biggest challenge was learning how to navigate different personalities in a high-pressure setting while staying professional and protecting her reputation. She cared deeply about doing the right thing and being seen as dependable.

She credits Dr. Day and the Midwest Career Source instructors with helping her grow through that challenge. She learned how to stay grounded, how to stay focused, and how to take care of herself with the same intention she brings to caring for others.

That lesson mattered because Ah’dyssey was balancing a lot. She is a mother of three, and she completed the accelerated program with limited outside support. Midwest Career Source became the support system she did not know she needed. She describes the team as a family and says their belief in her helped her finally believe in herself.

Benefits for Employers and Communities

Ah’dyssey believes apprenticeship benefits employers because it develops reliable staff who understand what the work requires and who show up ready to contribute. She prides herself on being the kind of teammate nurses can count on. She works hard, stays focused, and does not spend energy complaining. Instead, she puts her energy into patients.

She also sees the community impact in the smallest moments. She forms bonds with patients nearly every shift and tries to bring calm and consistency into situations that can feel scary or overwhelming. When people feel cared for, even in brief interactions, it changes their experience of the hospital.

Looking Ahead

Ah’dyssey is not stopping here. She plans to continue climbing. Her next step is the LPN program, with the long-term goal of becoming an RN. Ultimately, she hopes to work in obstetrics. She wants to grow into each stage, build confidence with every role, and keep moving forward without getting stuck in one place.

She knows the path will be demanding, but she also knows she can do hard things. Apprenticeship helped her unlock that certainty.

“Midwest Career Source was the support I never knew I needed. They believed in me until I believed in myself, and that changed everything.”
— Ah’dyssey Carter