MONROE - Starting a new career is never easy, but in these economic times, it has become a necessary and often difficult life change for many.
While the tide of career-switching is driven largely by the unemployment rate, it's also part of an overall trend in the workforce, as employees seek to keep themselves competitive in a changing, increasingly global workforce.
And at a basic level, with prices rising and wages stagnant in recent years, many simply need to earn more money for their families.
Lisa Vavra, 31, Monroe, wanted a chance to advance her career. After a few years as a certified nursing assistant, she went to Blackhawk Technical College (BTC) to become a registered nurse.
"I wanted a career that offered more opportunities for advancement" she said.
Her then fiancé, Scott, who is now her husband, encouraged her to go on to school to get her nursing degree. His support helped her a lot as she worked toward her goal.
It wasn't easy, she said. She was in her early 20s and had a daughter, Natalee, at home. In addition, she hadn't been to school in a few years and it was hard to get back into the habit of studying for exams and doing homework.
"There were a few hurdles," she said.
Health problems made her journey even more difficult. In the last semester of her general education studies, she began to have problems hearing. Ultimately Vavra was diagnosed with acoustic neuroma, a tumor of the nerve connecting the ear to the brain.
Following a serious operation, it took her weeks to recover completely. Yet the teachers at BTC supported her through her recovery.
"They worked it out so I could get the lectures on tape, get the notes from other students and take the exams later," she said. "I don't know what I would have done without them."
But despite all of that, Vavra was still in the first nursing class that graduated from the Monroe campus in December 2006.
Now working a good job in her field at Monroe Clinic, she sees herself as an example to others facing similar career challenges.
"I tell people they can do anything they want to do," she said. "If they're determined to do it."
Facing hard times ahead, Jon Ischi, 38, of Albany, also wanted do something to help his family after losing his GM job in Janesville.
Ischi worked at the plant for six years before he was laid off in 2008.
"I grew up with the place and I always heard rumors that the plant might close," he said. "I saw the writing on the wall when the economy started getting tough."
After he lost his job, Ischi enrolled in BTC's lab technician program.
Like Vavra, going back to school was a challenge for him.
"I was taking college chemistry classes and microbiology classes, but once the gears started turning I realized I could do this," he said.
Still, it was stressful at first, he said.
But he kept going because he wanted to graduate to help provide for his family, and to set an example for his children, Audrey, 7, and Joe, 5.
"I want them to see how important it is to get an education," he said.
When he graduated in May 2009, his wife, Lisa, and their two children were at the ceremony.
Audrey was in kindergarten and she was impressed by the event, Ischi said.
"She thought it was pretty neat," he said.
While the tide of career-switching is driven largely by the unemployment rate, it's also part of an overall trend in the workforce, as employees seek to keep themselves competitive in a changing, increasingly global workforce.
And at a basic level, with prices rising and wages stagnant in recent years, many simply need to earn more money for their families.
Lisa Vavra, 31, Monroe, wanted a chance to advance her career. After a few years as a certified nursing assistant, she went to Blackhawk Technical College (BTC) to become a registered nurse.
"I wanted a career that offered more opportunities for advancement" she said.
Her then fiancé, Scott, who is now her husband, encouraged her to go on to school to get her nursing degree. His support helped her a lot as she worked toward her goal.
It wasn't easy, she said. She was in her early 20s and had a daughter, Natalee, at home. In addition, she hadn't been to school in a few years and it was hard to get back into the habit of studying for exams and doing homework.
"There were a few hurdles," she said.
Health problems made her journey even more difficult. In the last semester of her general education studies, she began to have problems hearing. Ultimately Vavra was diagnosed with acoustic neuroma, a tumor of the nerve connecting the ear to the brain.
Following a serious operation, it took her weeks to recover completely. Yet the teachers at BTC supported her through her recovery.
"They worked it out so I could get the lectures on tape, get the notes from other students and take the exams later," she said. "I don't know what I would have done without them."
But despite all of that, Vavra was still in the first nursing class that graduated from the Monroe campus in December 2006.
Now working a good job in her field at Monroe Clinic, she sees herself as an example to others facing similar career challenges.
"I tell people they can do anything they want to do," she said. "If they're determined to do it."
Facing hard times ahead, Jon Ischi, 38, of Albany, also wanted do something to help his family after losing his GM job in Janesville.
Ischi worked at the plant for six years before he was laid off in 2008.
"I grew up with the place and I always heard rumors that the plant might close," he said. "I saw the writing on the wall when the economy started getting tough."
After he lost his job, Ischi enrolled in BTC's lab technician program.
Like Vavra, going back to school was a challenge for him.
"I was taking college chemistry classes and microbiology classes, but once the gears started turning I realized I could do this," he said.
Still, it was stressful at first, he said.
But he kept going because he wanted to graduate to help provide for his family, and to set an example for his children, Audrey, 7, and Joe, 5.
"I want them to see how important it is to get an education," he said.
When he graduated in May 2009, his wife, Lisa, and their two children were at the ceremony.
Audrey was in kindergarten and she was impressed by the event, Ischi said.
"She thought it was pretty neat," he said.