I want you to get to the destination no matter where you are or from.
From high school to college
I offer personalized consulting and tutoring to help you get started. Whether you’re choosing the right college program, building a study plan, or figuring out how to budget for your education, I’ll guide you every step of the way. My goal is to make your path into the lab sciences clear, affordable, and achievable—so you can move forward with confidence.
From student to professional
I offer tailored support to help you transition smoothly into your professional lab career. I can help you build a realistic certification exam review plan, explore which lab departments best match your interests and strengths, and guide you if you're thinking about moving into leadership or management down the line. With the right strategy, you won’t just pass your exam—you’ll start building a career with long-term growth in mind.
From one profession to another
Do you have a high school degree or anything equivalent? I have some good news for you: you can build a long, stable career just with this! I offer support in picking the right entry-level job, creating a resume with you, even if you have very limited experience, and structuring your future plans that don’t have a negative impact on your new job. The health industry is always thirsty; this is your second chance.
I’m Sherry, an ASCP-certified Medical Laboratory Scientist and the creator of the YouTube channel LabRat Sherry that demystifies hospital labs for students, families, patients, writers, and non-lab healthcare professionals. BUT,
What did I do, and why can I help?
Hi, do you want to grab a cup of coffee? This is going to be a long story…
I was not the top student back when I was in high school, and neither of my parents ever went to college, so, as you can imagine, I did not have a clear map for college, healthcare careers, or professional life. I’m also not a “trust fund baby”, money mattered, and I had to make practical choices. That is one reason I started at community college.
Surprisingly, being a student at a community college has become one of the most valuable experiences of my life, even to this day. I met my first and one of the best academic advisors here. During the days when I questioned my capabilities and future, she encouraged me with her personal stories, guided me to identify my real interests and strengths, and mentioned the option of becoming a Medical Laboratory Scientist. My life story started to unfold from that point. This might never have happened if I had started in a 4-year college because there are simply too many students.
I carried the goal of becoming a certified MLS and working in a hospital into a 4-year college. I had to study harder because the course became more demanding, and I also had to work harder because tuition increased. Life was full of challenges, and being a dishwasher was no longer enough from any perspective. Luckily, being a phlebotomist earns a lot more than washing dishes. It was also a very helpful experience for applying to a clinical rotation program.
The teaching style during clinical rotation was so different from that in school. There was no time for me to slowly digest. It was a 9-to-5, but stuffed with lectures, then it turned into on-bench practice. I was never a great note-taker, and forcing myself to memorize everything in the textbook was not efficient enough to pass the exams that happened every single week, if not more frequently. What helped me through high school and college doesn’t work this time because a human or a disease is not an equation. I experimented with many different ways to study and meet the new requirements of the clinical world; some worked, some didn’t. When I look back, there are so many things I could've improved. But, hey, I passed the exam in one shot. I think it counts as a success overall.
I was able to work in the reference lab, a small rural hospital, and a large research teaching center with the same certificate. I jumped between different roles, just like all the new graduates. It’s time to explore; it’s time to dream. I had a great time with my colleagues, but then the bench work wasn’t enough anymore; my ambition had grown. The benefits of working at a university hospital became apparent and brought graduate school to mind because of its convenient location, and I was able to communicate with potential advisors, as some of them were also my “coworkers”. I conducted my own research project and learned how to code at just the right time. This research project also earned me my first academic award and allowed me to attend the ASCP International Conference as someone with something to show. I saw so much potential for myself and the field I’m in.
Now, here I am, starting to write a new story…
