Some career paths follow a straight line. Quintessia Joseph’s took a detour, and it led her exactly where she was meant to be.
Today, the 23-year-old Baton Rouge native works full time as a medical assistant at FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake’s Brittany Clinic, caring for patients and contributing to a team she is proud to be part of. A little more than a year ago, she was sitting on a waiting list, wondering what would come next.
A Door Opens Two Days Early
Quintessia always knew she wanted a career in healthcare. After graduating from Liberty High School, she set her sights on nursing and applied to the program at Baton Rouge Community College. Then came the wait.
Rather than stand still, she started looking at other options. The medical assistant program caught her attention, and the timing could not have been closer. She was accepted two days before classes began.
“I wanted to stop working in customer service and move into a healthcare setting so I could expand my knowledge and get some experience while still focusing on my dream of becoming a nurse,” she says.
Help When It Mattered Most
Starting a new program comes with a long list of costs, including uniforms, books and supplies. For many students, those expenses can stand between them and a new career.
“It was stressful to get everything in and paid for,” Quintessia says. “It hits all at once.”
Soon after she enrolled, her instructor sent an email about BRHireD, a local workforce partnership that connects BRCC medical assistant students with area healthcare providers, including Our Lady of the Lake.
Quintessia applied and was accepted. The program covered her tuition, books, uniforms and supplies, along with the cost of her certification exam. That support helped her focus on learning instead of finances, and it made the program checklist far less stressful.
BRHireD also offered workshops on resume building, finding your learning style and more, plus professional headshots for students.
“BRHireD is a great program that gives people the opportunity to grow in all aspects,” Quintessia says.
More Than Coursework
At BRCC, Quintessia found a classroom that felt like a community.
“Our class was fortunate to have an amazing instructor who went above and beyond to help every student succeed,” Quintessia says. “Although the book work was a lot, she took her time to answer questions, explain the material and offer support when needed.”
Connecting with classmates and instructors became one of her favorite parts of the program. It also reinforced why she chose healthcare in the first place.
“My inspiration has been my desire to be someone who can show up for others when they aren’t able to,” she says. “Being a listener, educator, helping hand and a source of comfort and support are the things that drew me to healthcare. For me, healthcare isn’t just a job. It’s an opportunity to serve others and make a positive impact on their lives.”
Learning by Doing
Clinical rotations did not begin smoothly. Quintessia moved among several sites before landing at Our Lady of the Lake Perkins Surgery Center. Once there, she found her footing.
She learned how to room patients, document care accurately, assist providers with procedures and communicate as part of a team. She also rotated through several specialty clinics on the campus.
“I was able to get experience in orthopedics, in ENT, in vision, so that was pretty cool,” she says.
Throughout those weeks, Quintessia says she felt genuinely supported by the clinical team around her. From her supervisor to her preceptor, the people guiding her were patient, encouraging and always willing to help.
“Any time I had a question, someone was always willing to help,” Quintessia says. “If they didn’t know the answer, we would figure it out together.”
That kind of support is what inspires her to show up the same way for her patients today.
Ready for What Came Next
Graduation came in May, but the job search proved harder than she expected. Quintessia would leave interviews feeling confident, only to hear that the employer had chosen someone else.
“It got discouraging, and I started to give up” she says.
A few weeks before graduation, Quintessia applied for a position at Our Lady of the Lake. When the opportunity came through, she was ready to say yes to the next step.
“I was excited and happy to finally start my career, and that through all those denials, someone gave me a chance,” she says.
Right at Home
The transition from student to employee felt natural, largely because of her time at the Perkins Surgery Center.
“Most of the things I do now are basically the things I learned in clinicals,” she says.
At the Brittany Clinic, Quintessia’s days have a steady, purposeful rhythm. She brings patients back and rooms them, assists providers with procedures, calls patients, performs EKGs, gives vaccines and other injections, and charts patient information. Through it all, she makes sure both providers and patients have everything they need.
What she values most, though, are the people working beside her.
“If there’s a problem, there’s always someone to come check on me and ask if I need anything or if I’m OK,” she says. “That makes me feel better and like I’m part of a family.”
That support has helped her grow in ways she did not expect.
“I’m naturally a very shy person. This job has really made me start talking more and get out of my comfort zone,” she says.
The Road Ahead
Outside of work, Quintessia loves spending time with family, heading to trail rides and dancing at zydeco festivals. Professionally, her original dream has not faded. She plans to keep growing her career and return to school to become a nurse.
Across FMOL Health, stories like Quintessia’s show what can happen when opportunity meets determination. BRHireD opens doors for people who are ready to serve, and Quintessia’s journey is a meaningful example of that promise in action.
For anyone standing where she once stood, unsure where to begin, she offers advice shaped by her own journey.
“If it’s something you’re truly passionate about, pursue it with confidence and determination,” she says. “Don’t let anyone or anything hold you back from achieving your goals. Believe in yourself, stay focused, never give up on your dreams and, most importantly, keep God first.”
Her favorite Bible verse, Proverbs 3:5-6, has guided her every step of the way: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your path straight.”
“My journey has taught me that success is not always about how quickly you get somewhere or how you imagine it,” she says. “It’s about having faith, determination and perseverance to keep going.”
