Sisters, Cyndi Kurianski and Debbie Tighe above. At right, Veronica Quinlan, Helen Rodriquez, Chelsea Murray at their graduations. Two sisters found themselves sharing a dream-and the same classroom-as they embarked on a new career in the medical field.

Debbie Tighe and Cyndi Kurianski were both looking for a change. Each decided to sign up for the same course at the North Amityville Community Economic Council (NACEC) center in Amityville but did not tell the other. Tighe was in jewelry sales, but felt the calling to enter the medical field. "I always wanted to be a part of nursing," she said. " I felt I belonged in a hospital setting in a one-on-one care situation." Like many other people, Tighe wanted to expand her professional worth. "I was working in another field and I felt I went as far as I could," she said. "I wanted to get the chance to go back to school to get into the medical field." Tighe graduated as a Certified Nurses Assistant on June 20 and hopes to work with cancer patients at a local hospital. "I followed the leader," Kurianski said of her older sister. Kurianski plans to further her education, along with her sister, and tackle the challenging career as a reg­istered nurse. "Sisters have to do it together," she said.

Kurianski attended Nassau Community Col­lege and then ventured into the business world, working as an administrator. She was support­ed

in the program at NACEC by her husband and her older sister. "I couldn't have done it without her," she said.

The center also offers a host of other career programs such as office technology training. Graduates who want to further their skills or brush up on modern technology, enter the pro­gram and exit with a plan.

Office Technology graduate Helen Rodri­guez was working in the mortgage industry for 20 years until the industry took a turn for the worse. She found herself without a job and with limited skills. "I couldn't even type," she said. "Prospective employers would ask me I survived in the field without a knowledge of Excel and Word."

Rodriguez knew she had to do something. "I sat back and then I remembered the program here," she said. "Now I can type 50 words a minute, and I am ready for a job interview."

Classmate Veronica Quinlan was also looking to im­prove her skills and prepare for a better future. "I wanted to get a better career," she said. "Now I am looking at a future in business administration."

Chelsea Murray also shared the same classroom and hopes as Rodriguez and Quinaln. "I didn't want to work in retail anymore," she said. "I wanted a real job and now I feel that I am prepared; I can do anything; I am not limited anymore." In addition, the following students graduated from the program: Nurse Assistant Program (Day), Cheryl Bishop, RN Instructor - class ending September 5, 2007: Sandra Al­len, Natalie Adeleye, Luis Alveranga, Orville Farquhar­son, Dora Kittles, Shaimeke Moore, Deborah Mosely, John Rene, Roxana Reyes, Charlene Tulloch, Tanya Weathers. Nurse Assistant Program (Day), Cheryl Bishop, RN Instructor - class ending November 11, 2007: Angie Alexis, Natalia Barros, Latoya Edwards, Keith Fergu­son, Annjunette Gilzene, Peta-Gay Henry, Sean Mar­shall, Raimonda Morkunaite, Carlene Osbourne, Jessica Rago, Kaylyn Rodgers, Melissa Turner, Violeta Vega, Diana Youseff. Nurse Assistant Program (Day), Cheryl Bishop, RN Instructor - class ending January 18, 2008: Stephanie Carr, Samantha Daniello, Melissa Friedel, Steven Grif­fin, Taiwo Ikuomenisan, Kayana Jonas, Tehara Mc­Queen, Tekicia Jones. Nurse Assistant Program (Day), Cheryl Bishop, RN Instructor - class ending April 2, 2008: Sinmisola Akin­tayo, Debbie Auguste, Tanya Bean, Ashley Cully, Jillian Frisby, Shanean Janes, Charnae Lewis, Sacara McIn­tosh, Chelsea Russell, Denise Teape.

Nurse Assistant Program (Day), Cheryl Bishop, RN Instructor - class ending June 2, 2008: Gina Baglivio, Viviani Boggio, Jacqueline Brocco, Cathia Brunache, Lau­ren

Byers, Gwendolyn Chambers, Gail Gagnon, Amanda Garguiulo, Francisco Hernandez, Nakia Hinds, Ricardine Jaboin, Bernadette James, Tabitha James, Cynthia Kurianski, Victoria Re, Ingrid Sarmiento, Shanna-Kay Swazey, Marie Thervil, Debra Tighe, Jin Wang, Seannette Wint. Office Technology Program, Celia I. Miranda, Instructor - class ending January 6, 2008: Carrie Alexander, Kenneth Berry, Tara Collins, Laura Karadag, Latisha Johnson, Diane Robinson, Annette White.

Office Technology Program, Celia I. Miranda, In­structor - class ending June 27, 2008: Lourdes Hernan­dez, Julia Jimenez, Chelsea Murray, Lonnie Phillips, Veronica Quinlan, Helen Rodriguez, Lena Roots, Kellie Schneider.

English as a Second Language Program, Barbara Vi­tiello, Instructor - class ending June 6, 2008: Soila Alas, Maria Bonilla, Maria Chicas, Marie Ange Destime, Midrene Destime, Marie Doirin, Manuel Guaricela, Sebastian Idrovo, Antonia Jeannoute, Difficile Jocelyn, Tania Lizama, Marie Julene Pierre, Evelyne Reneus, Pawel Rosinski, Sonis A. Salmeron, Jose Vargas, Alba Lucia Vigoya-Garcia, Sylvia Ismael, Gabriela Zakosci­elna, Ines Andres.