Choosing Allen school has been one of the best decisions of my life. For years I had struggled with working dead end jobs and being laid off. I knew I needed to get some kind of college education. I tried some online classes through my local university, but balancing school and full time job was too difficult. I had to work extra to keep up with the hefty school bills added on to my already high cost of living. I tried to work out my struggles with school through my teachers but was either ignored or shrugged off as a bother. I failed those two classes, I gave up; it was so embarrassing. I am still ashamed of it. In April of 2013 I decided enough was enough and left my home of seven years, Alaska, to move in with my parents in Virginia. Finding a decent online school was a lot tougher than I thought it would be. I did about a month of searching. Then one day Shelly Campbell from Allen school called. She listened to my story and told me she felt Allen School was for me. We set up another meeting where she showed me a dream come true. I couldn’t believe my luck when I was told I was accepted for enrollment. Gayle Naftzger and Valerie Hampton worked with me to set me up with financial aide and a payment plan. They were so patient and so helpful. June 10th I started Medical Coding and Billing courses online and was so impressed with how coopera-tive my teachers were. I email questions or call and they answer right away. Not only did I receive help from them but also my classmates. I admire my fellow students, the single parents, the ones fighting illness, going through divorces you name it they have overcome it to go to back to school. I’m proud to be called a student of Allen School; to learn beside these awesome people. I’m proud to say I am now carrying a 4.0 grade average at the end of my third module with a full time job. I’m proud of the education I am receiving, proud of my teachers. I am especially proud of the fact that because of Allen School when I graduate I will have the ability to reach my goals.