Lonia Raphael of Salisbury wants to be a nurse. So, she came to Wor-Wic. “Wor-Wic has a really good reputation,” she said. “If you have a degree from Wor-Wic, people want to hire you.”
A native speaker of Creole, she took the placement test for credit classes, but couldn’t pass. “Then I was told I needed ESL classes. My niece told me that Wor-Wic offered those as well.”
So, Raphael came up with a plan. She completed the College Prep ESL classes and passed the placement tests in December. Currently, she is enrolled in the CNA program. “After that, I plan to continue to enroll in credit classes and get into the nursing program.”
Raphael said that she used to work in the dietary department at the Salisbury Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, which is operated by Genesis HealthCare. “That’s when I decided I wanted to be a nurse. Right now, I’m working as a caregiver at United Needs & Abilities in Salisbury, but I hope to get a raise and work as a CNA after finishing the course at Wor-Wic and getting my license. I plan to work as a CNA while I study nursing.”
When asked what her experience has been like so far, she said “I would recommend Wor-Wic to anyone, especially if they need the ESL classes! The teachers and professors are very supportive of the students. They make sure you know the material so you can pass the tests. Being able to take ESL, pass the placement tests and get into the CNA course, which is what I wanted to study — I really appreciate how Wor-Wic has helped me work toward my goal.”