At first sight, big, burly Johnathan Horne does not look like a typical nurse assistant. A closer examination however, reveals a softer side of Johnathan, who is a remarkably caring, compassionate individual. A little over a year ago, Johnathan was laid off from a local mill. When he ended up in the unemployment office, a representative from Montgomery JobLink suggested he take a skills assessment. Since he was unsure of his next career move, Johnathan took that advice and was shocked to discover the results. The assessment indicated his strengths were in the nursing field. Although a bit skeptical, Johnathan took a leap of faith. He studied for and obtained his Medication Technician license. His next step was to get a job. He applied at Sandy Ridge Assisted Living in Candor where he was hired as a medication technician/patient care assistant. “I never pictured myself making a living [in a nursing field],” said Johnathan. It turns out he really enjoyed his work, so he decided to learn more. He inquired about a Health Care Specialist class offered at Montgomery Community College where he could earn a certificate in nurse assisting I, medication aide and geriatric aide in only six months. The brief time investment appealed to him as Johnathan is a dedicated family man with a wife and three children. Going to school would mean sacrifices on everyone’s part. Another sacrifice would be finding the funds to pay for the class, textbooks and supplies. Upon further inquiry, Johnathan discovered that as a former laid-off mill worker he qualified for a grant that would pay for his school expenses. With the final hurdle cleared, he enrolled in the class. For six months Johnathan went to school five days a week from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM, then went directly to work until 11:30 PM. There were days Johnathan says, when he thought he wouldn’t be able to keep up with both school and work. For motivation he kept a picture of his family on his rear view mirror. “I remembered I wasn’t just doing this for me,” he said. His classmates helped him by joking with him, encouraging him, and sometimes just keeping him awake during class. “There were times I would come to class and couldn’t keep my eyes open or get my head off my desk. I sat in the front so [my instructor] could tap me on the shoulder and make sure I stayed up,” says Johnathan. “Everyone helped each other like a family.” In December Johnathan’s class took their written and skills exams. It was a tense time for everyone. The entire class passed the written portion of the test. Then, two by two, his classmates went into the nursing lab to take their skills examinations. Johnathan and his partner were last. Johnathan passed his exam despite all his doubts. “It took me a long time to grasp that I did it. When it finally sunk in, I walked around with a smile on my face for the next three months,” Johnathan said. Back on the job, his education continues to pay dividends. “This class helped me understand what my patients and their families are going through. It has made me a better caregiver,” he said. He also received an increase in pay. The Health Care Specialist class is only one of several JobsNOW classes offered at Montgomery Community College designed to give students practical skills they can use on the job in a short six months. Other JobsNOW courses include Residential Wiring and Code, Medical Insurance Coding, Phlebotomy/EKG Technician, Autobody Repair, Welding, Masonry, Office Administration (certificate), and Legal Office Administration (certificate.) Johnathan’s next goal is to take the certified nurse assisting II class, offered at MCC this fall, and maybe someday become a licensed practical nurse or a registered nurse. Looking back, Johnathan says it was worth making sacrifices to get where he is today. Johnathan Horne may not look like a typical nurse assistant, but once you meet him, you couldn’t picture him doing anything else.