CalWORKs client turned nursing student: With hard work, anything is possible

CalWORKs client Michelle Doyle, a mother of two young children, found the courage to leave her abusive marriage in 2019, she said.

“We came to Shasta County with nothing,” she said. “I had family here, but they could not take us in. This is where my journey with CalWORKs started.”

CalWORKs put the trio in a hotel for two weeks while Michelle figured out her next steps. With her family’s help, she bought a small RV and parked it on a sister’s property.

“My girls and I had a home,” she said.

Michelle started working through her trauma. She got great help from Jill-Armanda Ward, a mental health clinician who was amazing and helped her push forward, Michelle said.

“In my marriage, I was told that I was not smart enough or good enough to become a nurse, a passion I have had since high school. It was finally my time to prove to myself that I was good enough and I could do it,” Michelle said.

Michelle started a medical-assistant course in 2020 to help her find a good job while putting herself through school. 

“I found that not only was I smart enough, but with a little bit of hard work, anything is possible. I had some late nights and early mornings, and it seemed like something was always going wrong, like my car breaking down or one of us were sick, but I kept my goals clear and pushed forward. I saved a little bit at a time and after two years, I was able to get us into a house. Today, I am working as a medical assistant, have two (almost three) degrees, and am waiting to hear if I will be accepted into the Shasta College nursing program. Life is good!”

This fall, Michelle was accepted into the nursing program, and expects to finish in 2026. She received help from multiple facets of CalWORKs, including its job center, childcare and supportive services. Employment and Training Worker Cathy Cheso and multiple other staff members provided great guidance, she said.

“Everybody I have talked to in CalWORKs has helped boost me up and encourage me and give me the tools that my daughters and I need to be successful,” Michelle said. “All of the help along the way has been so very supportive – I just had to put in the work!”