ndnreservation

Forum, I have begun to try to restore my interest in health care. I used to be involved two decades ago as an EMT-A. However, life and addiction played a greater role in between then and now. Presently, I have applied and been accepted into a CNA course at the community college. I still have the desire to serve those who need the extra help and would like to eventually get into higher levels of care but CNA will work for now. My concern here is this--> I have an extensive and searchable criminal history that dates back to my addiction days. Once the addiction behavior was arrested (no pun intended) the criminal activity ended simultaneously and it would not take any amount of genius to understand the correlation between the two. Aside from the minor infractions (panhandling, sleeping in the laundromat) generally associated with the lifestyle, I do have one assault (mutual combatants, no arrests) and a felony (expunged, allegedly stole a keg of beer). Today, I am 12 hours from receiving a B.A. from a major university, have been a public transportation provider for nearly eight years, hold a Hazardous Materials license which requires an Okay from the Department of Homeland Security and have been clean and sober for nearly nine years (which means no arrests in those same nine years). Am I dreaming, disillusioned by my own accomplishments. Does the experience of this forum offer any hope for me and my ambition to serve? Feedback appreciated.

A little background--I used to be an EMT-A when I was much younger. I was proud of my accomplishment and took pride in my work. However, I found the money poor and the ladder too steep to climb so i left EMS and never returned. (I was young) Today, I am 47 years old and looking for a new chanllenge. I want to get back to my health care roots, preferably in trauma care, but I am not sure if I have the same fire I had twenty some odd years ago. Today, I enrolled in a CNA course coming up in Sept. The things that give me the greatest doubts are my age, how patients will react to me and how I will react to them. I have become very cynical over the past 20 yrs but I think I feel that way toward the able and healthy so it will not come out toward those I intend to serve. Service is my greatest motivator. I have been a taker for too long and I am ready to give for a change. I have also noticed that many health care classes are filled with young beauty. I am grown and it shows. i hope that patients and classmates alike will take an aging, Native American male seriously as a care provider. Wish me luck. Feedback appreciated and Thanks in advance.