“I began taking my online degree at UMA almost two years ago, but my journey to Ultimate Medical Academy wasn’t easy. I dropped out of high school at 17, and became a single mother of two. That didn’t leave me with many options. I found myself in a low-paying, dead-end job. I decided to go back to school at the age of 30. The first step was earning my GED at a local community college. Shortly after getting my GED, I started taking classes at a nearby college. I quickly realized a traditional classroom setting wasn’t for me. When my two children started struggling in school, that was a turning point for me. I wanted to be a role model for my children and I wanted a better life for all of us. I started looking for an online school. I thought taking classes online would fit the needs of my family. I found UMA and was ecstatic! They explained that they had supports in place for students just like me. I would be able to take my classes at my own pace, and still be able to have as much access to tools and instructors as I needed. I enrolled right away because I wanted my future to start immediately. As much as I want to inspire my children, they inspire me even more. Both of my children have specialized learning needs. My daughter has a hearing impairment and the doctors tell me she could become completely deaf within 5 years. The knowledge I gained in my classes has helped me to be a better advocate for my daughter with her healthcare needs. Not only did I succeed, I excelled and graduated with a 4.0 GPA! After I graduated, my Career Services Advisor supported me and worked with me to find me a position I love. She encouraged me to attend a career fair where I interviewed with one of the regional clinical directors. They offered me a job on the spot. Now every day I get to go to a job I love. I operate the front desk where I assist patients by taking vitals, collecting their data and medical histories, and escorting them into the exam room. The office staff is great and they are like my second family. My daughter’s school has a parent show-and-tell every month. Parents get to come and talk to the students about their career. My daughter asked her teacher if I could come speak to the class because she is proud of me. I can’t believe how different my life is today than it was a few years ago. I would have never imagined it, but I’m so happy. I’d do it all over again to end up in the same place!”

Step 2: Create a new thread and answer all three parts of the initial prompt below: Respond to the following prompts in your initial post:
Describe the author’s purpose and audience for writing this essay.
Now that you have identified the purpose of the essay, explain why you believe the author did or did not achieve her intended purpose. (Hint: Focus on the author’s intended message rather than her life goal.)Explain what you think is the value of writing a reflection. What benefit do people receive by writing about their own experiences?