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Rugenia Zimmerman: The Career-Course Correction

Rugenia Zimmerman: The Career-Course Connection

For Rugenia Zimmerman, the recession was a wake-up call.  She had been working in the healthcare field for 25 years and knew that caring for people was her passion.  But she also knew that losing her job as a patient observer at a local hospital was a very real possibility due to cutbacks and layoffs.  Wisely, Rugenia sensed it was time to look into job training options that would help her transition to a better job with more security.  She found out about Goodwill’s Human Services Employment Ladder Program (HELP) and enrolled.  For Rugenia, this eight-week class that prepares individuals to work in the human services industry was just the ticket she needed to advance in a line of work she already loved.

"I was so fortunate to find the Goodwill program," Rugenia says.  "Even though I had worked in hospitals and nursing homes for years, I had no formal patient-care training. The Goodwill instructors were wonderful.  They helped me upgrade my knowledge and skills by giving me lots of information on patient behavior.

"They also helped me understand the pressures I’d have to deal with when working with people with disabilities," she adds.  "Goodwill really paved the way for me to advance in the field I love."  Within a month of her graduation, Rugenia landed a job as a residential counselor with Bay Cove Human Services, one of the program’s employer partners.

Rugenia’s new job has been perfect for her because Bay Cove is also helping her go back to school.  "I’m blessed because Bay Cove’s commitment to continuing education is exactly what I want.  We are definitely on the same page. I’m so happy that everything is turning out so well. My career is moving forward and I’m proud that in addition to healing bodies, soon I’ll be healing minds and spirits as well."

Like so many other graduates of Goodwill’s job training programs, Rugenia deeply appreciates the expertise and the compassion of the people at Goodwill – and the generosity of those who support Goodwill.