Mom gets advanced degrees, inspires young daughters

Keezia Wadsworth, Jefferson, Wis. wanted to show her kids with hard work, dedication and perseverance you can reach your goals. That’s exactly what she did on May 12, 2017 when she crossed the stage to receive an associate degree and two technical diplomas from Madison College.

Wadsworth was residential coordinator and direct support professional at St. Coletta of Wisconsin and worked as a certified nursing assistant, patient service representative and switchboard operator at Fort Memorial Hospital. Tired of the physical aspects of the job with two young daughters, working evenings and weekends was difficult for her.

A supervisor at St. Coletta urged Wadsworth to go back to school and better herself. She took that advice and enrolled in the Medical Administrative Specialist program at Madison College. Some classes are offered online and others at the Watertown or Fort Atkinson campuses, allowing her flexibility to fit her busy schedule.

“At first my daughter thought it was weird that her mom was going to school,” Wadsworth said. “This year she entered kindergarten and looked forward to doing homework with me and her sister. She would practice writing or pretend to type on her toy computer.”

In addition to her associate degree, Wadsworth earned Healthcare Receptionist and Medical Billing Specialist technical diplomas. Even before graduation, she landed a receptionist position with Fort HealthCare going from clinic to clinic wherever needed. Her new coworkers are impressed with her knowledge of insurance and medical terminology.

“To fill this position, you must be flexible and able to multitask. You have to adjust to different preferences at different locations,” explained Nancy Alstad, senior director of Human Resources for Fort HealthCare. “We are pleased that MATC offers training in the key competencies for office assistants to provide positive customer experiences.”

Wadsworth is happy to use the skills she gained from Madison College. She’s also glad that she will no longer have to work evenings or weekends so she can be involved in activities with her daughters.

“They are excited for me to be home every night, because as long as they can remember, I’ve worked or had class at least a few nights out of the week,” she said.

Wadsworth credits her success to the support of her fiancé and family. “Without them, I would not be where I am today,” she said. “My classmates and my instructor, Cindy Dailing, have also been supportive. I am excited to see what the future holds for me.”