Catching Up with WPSI Grad Myna Whitney

Myna Whitney is a superstar. From the moment she joined the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative in 2012, she’s been a champion of the program, whether she’s appearing in UCD videos, speaking at alumni events, or talking to friends, neighbors, family or anyone else within earshot about why she loves the Skills Initiative and how it prepared her to succeed. We caught up with Myna six years after she graduated from WPSI as she celebrates another graduation – this time from Drexel University – to see where her training with the Skills Initiative has helped her land.

Myna was a member of our first Medical Assistant cohort with Drexel Medicine back in 2012 when she was only 19 years old. Her start in the program was rocky: after she and a friend got lost on the way to an information session, she wound up walking in late and sitting in the back, both cardinal sins with former WPSI director Sheila Ireland. 

“I knew this was not a good first impression,” Myna remembers. When the session concluded, Myna approached Sheila and then-Drexel employee Sarah Steltz (our current Vice President of Workforce Solutions) to explain the reason for their lateness. Sheila and Sarah heard her out and shared information about future sessions, and Myna decided the best way to atone was by coming to the remaining three information sessions—always early, always sitting in the front row—even though each shared the same information. This approach made an impression on the WPSI staff, and a solid interview landed Myna a spot in that first Drexel cohort. 

Once in the program, Myna flourished. She already had a medical assistant certification but had struggled to connect to employment after completing her coursework, so she instantly recognized the value of the WPSI training model and the opportunity she was being presented with. She worked her tail off to secure a position with Drexel. Although the Skills Initiative guarantees an interview with the employer partner for those who graduate, the program does not guarantee a job. “No one can guarantee you a job, we have to be real here,” Myna says. “WPSI gives you the tools. They give you the interview. Then it’s up to you.”

Before Myna graduated from the Skills Initiative she developed a six-year plan for herself that included: getting a job at Drexel as a medical assistant; earning enough money to buy her own house; and graduating from Drexel with a Bachelor of Science. 

The job at Drexel she ticked off right away, and she continued using the tools acquired at WPSI as she launched her career. “When I first started the program, we had job training workshops. You would find out like what type of person you are, you would talk about what you could expect in the workplace, how you would handle conflicts, different resolutions, and things like that.” This preparation – in addition to Myna’s own palpable drive to succeed – has led to loads of success working for Drexel. 

“I got Employee of the Quarter,” she says. Then she backtracks to explain: her department apparently started giving out an Employee of the Quarter Award just to honor Myna, something she says they hadn’t done before. 

While working at Drexel she was able to accomplish her goal of buying her own house, and also enrolled at Drexel’s Goodwin College to earn a B.S. in General Studies. While simultaneously working as an MA and going to school, she kept a graduation countdown superimposed over a picture of her and Drexel President John Fry to inspire her. “When I first created this countdown, there was over 500 days in it. 500 days,” she repeats and shakes her head in disbelief.  

The countdown hit zero on June 15th when Myna and thousands of her classmates celebrated their graduation at Citizen’s Bank Park. Myna, who earned magna cum laude honors, is the first member of her family to graduate from college. She was joined by over 40 friends and family who came to help her celebrate.  

Myna’s Drexel journey may have reached another milestone, but it’s not finished yet. Myna is already enrolled in the summer classes she’ll need to enter the Drexel Accelerated Career Entry (ACE) BSN program, an intensive nursing program she’s been accepted to for students who already have bachelors or graduate degrees. In the fall, she wants to travel before starting the program, but then it’s back to work advancing in her career. 

Now that she’s accomplished her original set of goals, it’s no surprise that she’s already made a new six-year plan. The new plan includes graduating from the accelerated program in 2020, looking into a scholarship through the NURSE Corps, and eventually working as a nurse in an underserved area in Philadelphia. 

Given her drive, passion and ambition, we have no doubt that she’ll accomplish every one of those goals.