Graduates from all three American Career College campuses in Southern California gathered this October to celebrate the Fall 2023 Graduation.
ACC Co-President Susan Pailet said nearly 1,000 graduates and 10,000 guests attended the event, which was held at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. Pailet encouraged the graduates to enjoy the moment but understand that today wasn’t just to celebrate the end of school.
“This is just the beginning,” Pailet said. “You've accomplished so much so far, and the sky is the limit for you. Give it your heart and soul, and you can do anything you want to do.”
ACC-Orange County physical therapist assistant program valedictorian Madison M. said she was honored to be recognized during the ceremony but added that the real honor is now being able to pursue her passion for patient care and advocacy.
“I’ve worked really hard. It's the hardest 20 months I've ever done, but it's a huge reward at the end of it, working with patients and being able to help with their aches and pains,” Madison said.
ACC-Los Angeles medical assistant program valedictorian Frances V. said she was proud she didn't quit when things got tough during the program and glad to have finished. Frances credited her instructors and the Student Services department for providing help when it was needed.
"The staff here is so nice. Student Services was really great, and the ambassador program definitely was the best choice I've ever made," Frances said. "The faculty, my instructors, they made me feel like I wasn't alone and made sure that I was getting to where I was supposed to go."
ACC-Ontario vocational nursing graduate Andrew P. said he wasn't sure if this day would ever come. After leaving the US Army, he said he hadn't found a lot of success in other programs until coming to ACC. Now a proud graduate, Andrew was happy to share the day with the family — especially his two young children.
"I'm full of emotion — my mom came into town, my aunt, my wife, and my children get to see me when I graduate," Andrew said. "That was my biggest thing, for my kids to see me do something and finish it — so they know they can do things as well."
Inspired to set a good example for the next generation of nurses, Andrew urged anyone having doubts about working in healthcare not to wait any longer.
"The only way you're going to know if you're going to pass or fail is if you just go ahead and do it — so just do it," he said. "Just go for it, and you never know, you may surprise yourself, and you may be at something like this one day — at a graduation — even after you felt like you weren't going to make it through."
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