The week had unfolded with a sense of excitement as our new Medical Coding and Billing Specialist students prepared to meet guest speakers for their Workplace Essentials pre‑course.
Our new Medical Coding and Billing Specialist program welcomed its very first cohort with a series of guest speaker sessions. Each session featured a different presenter, topic, and set of experiences meant to guide the students as they stepped into their new academic journey. On Monday, 3/09, Roberto Marti spent the early afternoon sharing stories about returning to school as an adult learner and discussing opportunities at HACC. Later that day, from 3 to 3:30, Kay Litman reviewed the student handbook.
Tuesday, 3/10, was a full day of sessions. In the morning, Janet Perez spoke about overcoming barriers, giving back to the community, and building a stable professional life. Right after, Katie Irvin led a session on time management, the consequences of absenteeism, and setting priorities. After lunch, Shannon McMinn spent two hours focusing on self‑care, stress management, and mental health. The day concluded with Maribel and Rafael Torres, who shared the origins of WEPA and offered a tour of the building.
Wednesday, 3/11, began with Heather Hoffman leading a session on teamwork, boundaries, and appropriate coworker relationships. Afterward, Shayne Shafer covered customer service basics, handling complaints, reading customer cues, and understanding what traits new hires should display, along with opportunities at Union. Later that afternoon, from 3 to 3:30, I came in to take photos for the students’ ID badges.
On Thursday, 3/12, Soledad Arroyo wrapped up the week with a session on emotional intelligence, coworker relationships, conflict resolution, and building a positive mindset when receiving feedback.
As the week ended, we felt grateful to everyone who had invested their time and energy into these students. They are on the verge of becoming college students and had every reason to feel proud of themselves.