Another Concorde Success Story

Just a few short years ago, Janaye McKinney was a young, single mother of two struggling to get by in her hometown of Batesville, Miss. She was working as an administrative assistant, making enough money to squeak by. But she knew she could do better, for herself and her children. Though she loved her hometown, she found little opportunity for single mothers to improve on their lots in life.

"I just knew I wasn't satisfied with where I was in life," she said. That's when, strictly by chance, she discovered Concorde. "One day, I saw a commercial about the Pharmacy Technician program at Concorde," McKinney said, "and I just knew that was for me."

Her experience in the Pharmacy Technician program at Concorde - Memphis

McKinney's journey to the Pharmacy Technician program at Concorde was not always a smooth one, especially at first. There was the one-hour-plus drive every day from Batesville to the Concorde campus in Memphis, Tenn. She had to ensure her children were properly cared for when she was in school.

McKinney said the support she received from her Concorde instructors was instrumental in her overcoming those obstacles and staying on course during her Pharmacy Technician program.

"I had a lot of hardships along the way, traveling from Batesville to Memphis," she said. "But my teachers pushed me so much, they wouldn't let me quit."

"There were some very discouraging days, but my teachers prayed with me, encouraged me, and if I missed a day, they called. I mean, they really cared, and you don't get that at a lot of schools."

Hired as a Pharmacy Technician out of extern site

McKinney said she was blessed to be hired as a Pharmacy Technician by one of the sites where she completed her externship. First, however, there was a licensing exam to pass. She said that was one of the more nerve-wracking times during her journey. But again, she found comfort in the support of her Concorde instructors.

"When it was time for the big test, my nerves were shot," she said. "But, my teachers checked on me, gave me test notes and were always available to answer emails and calls."

McKinney passed her exam and today is certified as a Pharmacy Technician at a specialty pharmacy.

"I get to fly to different specialty pharmacies my boss has opened and train people all over the world," she said. "I'm doing something I love, and I get to spend real time with my daughters. It's a blessing to actually love what you're doing and being financially secure."

What comes next for this Pharmacy Technician?

Today, McKinney not only works as a Pharmacy Technician with her company but she also tutors other single mothers about opportunities to get educated, trained and better the lives of themselves and their families.

She's also started work on getting her bachelor's degree in pharmaceutical science at the University of Mississippi.

It all started with seeing that ad for Concorde and deciding that, of all the pharmacy tech schools, it was the one for her.

"Concorde gives you the tools to be great, and I encourage everyone to go there," she said. "You never know what you are capable of unless you try. That was one of the first things my first instructor said when I came through the door. And she was absolutely right. I just never would have imagined my life could have totally changed in a year, but I owe it all to Concorde."