When Tyler Bonilla signed up for JVS SoCal’s CareerWork$ Medical, he left behind a job as a concierge in a luxury hotel in Los Angeles. Previously, he was a flight attendant for seven years.
“I’m transitioning into healthcare for long-term career growth,” says Tyler who didn’t see advancement in either job. “I’d like to make this the start of a new chapter,”
Tyler comes from a low-income background, CareerWork$ Medical fit perfectly into his plans. He was looking for a program that provides assistance to change career paths when he found JVS SoCal.
CareerWork$ Medical is a cost-free eight-week course that prepares the student with the fundamental knowledge to work in a non-clinical role in the healthcare industry.
Tyler took the course and today he works as a front office manager at APLA Healthcare, a medical center focused providing services for the LGBTQ+ community.
“I thought of it as a blessing for me because it allowed me to learn the foundation of healthcare,” remembers Tyler who also holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and sociology from California State University, Fullerton.
“I spent a lot of money going to school, going to college, and receiving my bachelor’s degree,” says Tyler, “I never thought something like this would be free.”
As a program graduate, Tyler would set foot in a high -demand industry, even though it is in a non-clinical capacity. What he learned, mixed with his social and communications skills developed in previous jobs, would prove important in his career change.
“Hopefully I make a long career out of the healthcare industry, even if it means I have to start over and go in at an entry level position or an administrative assistant position,” explains Tyler. “As long as I’m in healthcare, I think that I can make it a long-lasting career and work my way up in administration.”
Programs like CareerWork$ Medical are funded by private donors and employer partners of JVS SoCal. Tyler gets emotional as he’s aware of how important these funders are on programs like this as well as BankWork$, ApartmentWorks, HealthWorks and ImagingWorks.
“I would say they’re helping people like me who come from diverse backgrounds and have had trouble in the workforce because of that diversity and low income. They’re helping us and they’re making a real difference,” Tyler said.
In the future, Tyler would love to evolve into imaging as an MRI technician. With a program like ImagingWorks, this could become a real possibility.
“Let’s see where the future takes us”, concludes Tyler.
If you’re inspired by Tyler’s story and would like to help someone else achieve their dream, please donate today.