Speaker: Arielle Keating
Arielle Keating: My name is Ariel Keating. The reason why I think this program really helped me and possibly others is one, I like to learn on my own. I feel like I learn better when it's at my own pace, um, and I have the privacy in my own space to do what I need to do and learn on my own. Um, I also like being able to work full time and this has really helped me be able to advance my knowledge, but be able to work, um, at full time. So this is very helpful for people who are in the same situation.
Describe your overall experience completing the ACT program. What stood out to you the most?
Arielle Keating: What I really enjoyed about this program was 1, being able to do it at your own pace, and 2, I liked that it wasn't just reading and lectures. It was some simulations. If you got a kit, you were able to interact with a kit. Um, you were able to just learn a lot more than just a video and a possible lecture or just reading. Being able to actually be in a simulation and pretend to be with patients and help them out was able to help me get in the role a little bit more, and it was very helpful to advance.
In what ways did ACT make you feel supported, even though the program was online?
Arielle Keating: Um, one thing that did make me feel very supportive was I do appreciate the fact that teachers didn't take too long to, um, respond to you. And if you, I've noticed a couple of times when I would ask a couple questions, they would answer my email and then they would also tell me. That if I have the time or, um, want to put the time into having a one on one meeting with them, they worked really hard to try and make that happen and try and push you to have a one on one meeting. I personally didn't do as many one on one meetings as I probably should have. Um, I just personally like to just learn on my own. Um, I feel like I can gather information when I push myself a little bit more than having to constantly ask questions. Um, when I kind of just figure it out on myself, I'm like, oh wow, like that makes a lot of sense. Um, but knowing that the teachers were always there and knowing that they would get back to us really quickly was very helpful. Um. I also did like the feedback that I would get after submitting an assignment, whether the message was automated or not. I just appreciated the fact that there was just a little message just saying like, good job on completing your assignment, just like simple things like that, um, was really nice and rather just saying like, you, you completed your assignment, you can move forward. Like, even though, yeah, same mess, like it could be both automated, but it's just nice knowing that there was a small message behind every little assignment, um, you submitted. Um, and yeah, it was really nice. I felt supported. Um, I like being able to learn at my own pace. Um, and yeah, and the teachers were always there on any questions. And so yeah, it was very helpful.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering enrolling in an ACT program?
Arielle Keating: The best advice I could give someone who's interested in any program that they have here, um, if you are working full time and you want to advance your knowledge, but you don't want to have to put work aside, I think this is really great for someone like that. Um, I also think people who prefer learning on their own, especially in a more private setting, I think this is also a best fit for you. Um, I also believe just if you're in the medical field already or you're working in a related medical field job that's somewhat related to medical assistant or just getting ready for the medical field overall, I work as an aide at a physical therapy clinic, and I feel like I can learn as much, maybe not. Everything I learn in a program, but I can learn as much as I can by patient care, leadership, teamwork, um, and just overall care in general. Um, I've been able to learn from there, so I just feel like doing an in-person school is just not a good fit for me personally, just because I, again, like to learn on my own, at my own pace, um, especially in a private setting. Um, I get very nervous and Um, like queasy feeling if I am around others, especially taking quizzes or tests. I just don't like eyes on me, um, like that. Um, but I do enjoy being able to just learn on my own pace. Um, so yeah, I, I think if you work full time, if you enjoy working on your own, if you learn better on your own, Um, I think this, any one of these programs would be a great fit for you. I would do another program if I could, or when I have financial aid more. Um, I would definitely do another program with them. I think they're very helpful, supportive. Um, I've learned a lot. Um, and I'm still learning a lot to this day, although some things I'll be going over and I'm like, wow, like that was very helpful. Um, so yeah, I, anyone that's even considering doing online school and thinks that it would be a good fit, I'm telling you I think it would be a great fit for you because People can be overwhelming, and I just think that this is very nice to kind of start off easy, kind of get the environment, um, and yeah.
