A smiling nursing student in blue scrubs reviews materials with an instructor during a medical class.

Bryan University Graduate Spotlight: Lashaunda James, Medical Assisting Graduate  

Some people know what they want to do. The hard part is finding the path that actually gets them there. 

For Bryan University graduate Lashaunda James, the destination was always healthcare, but the road to get there wasn’t as simple.   

The Road to Enrollment

She always wanted to work in the medical field. She started with nursing school, but had to leave when family circumstances made it impossible to continue. She pivoted to pursuing a CNA certification, but it was the height of COVID and testing centers were closed across the board.  

She wasn’t ready to give up. She went online, did her research, and found Bryan University. 

“I made a remark and acted on it. I was like, I want to go to school for clinical medical assisting, or just a medical assistant period. I got online, that’s how I found it, did my research, and said, let me give the school a try and it was a perfect fit for me.” 

Seeing that the program was 100% online was the detail that made her take a closer look. What she found when she enrolled exceeded her expectations. 

“When I found Bryan University and saw that it was 100% online, I’m like, let me give this a shot and it was perfect for me. It was convenient. It was actually more hands-on than anything I’d tried before, and I loved it.”  

Learning Medicine Online

She wasn’t afraid of learning medical content in an online format, but she was curious about how it would actually work in practice. Especially the at-home kit included in tuition, she was ready for that from day one. 

“I was really excited; I think I was overly excited to use it. Once I got it, it was just like, when are we going to start using it? But I see why we had to wait a little longer to get the basics first. It was really helpful. I actually went and bought an upgraded version of it.” 

Flexibility That Fit Her Life

Between work, a husband, and a son, flexibility was a requirement. She said the self-paced format made everything fit together in a way that other programs hadn’t. 

“It was really convenient. I didn’t have to work around my husband’s schedule or my son’s schedule, it was just whenever I got off work. The fact that we could work at our own pace was really convenient as well. It just made everything really easy.” 

She built a simple, sustainable routine and stuck to it. 

“I didn’t have to change my work schedule or anything. Whenever I got off work, I’d work on a few assignments, and by the end of the week I’d be done and ready for the next set.” 

She didn’t just complete the program, she excelled. By the end, she had maintained a 4.0 GPA and earned a spot on the President’s List. 

“That was definitely a high-five moment for myself.”  

The Finish Line

Submitting the final assignment was a moment she’d worked hard to reach. When it came, the feelings were mixed in the best way. 

“It was a bittersweet moment, because it’s like, I kind of feel like I’ve learned all I needed to, but I was kind of anxious to learn a little bit more. But it was definitely like, it’s over, we’re finally done. I was excited because it just means I get to move on to the next step.” 

The transition out of the program was just as smooth as the experience itself. She expected a long, drawn-out process. That’s not what she got. 

“Everybody was really helpful. I was really surprised at how fast everything was processed. When they told me I was good to go, I’m like, really? I expected it to be a long process, but it was really quick and efficient.”  

Support Along the Way

Whenever she hit a wall, she didn’t stay stuck for long. Help was available, and it was responsive. 

“Whenever I did need help, they were quick to respond and help me out with what I needed.” 

Looking back, her advice to future students centers on that same principle: don’t go it alone when you don’t have to. 

“Keep open communication. There were times when I found myself stuck, and all you really have to do is reach out. Keep communication open with your instructors and they’ll be able to help you out with anything you need, especially the success coaches and career services. They give you all the resources you need. Take advantage of them instead of letting them go to waste.”  

Her Advice for Anyone on the Fence

If the program feels hard at first, she says, stay in it. 

“Just stick with it. It may seem hard at times, but it gets easier the more you pay attention. There were definitely times where I’m like, I’m not going to be able to get this and surprisingly, I did. Especially when it came to the hands-on stuff. You’re so anxious to get to it, and when you finally do, it’s kind of like, I don’t know if I can do this. But it’s easier than it looks.”  

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