InTucker Magazine

Business of the Month – OnPoint Institute

After the birth of her second child, Sandra Thompson drifted in and out of consciousness. Everything felt like a blurred haze until a nurse entered the room to check her vitals. In her vulnerable state, Thompson heard the nurse say, ‘This woman is sick.’ She was immediately rushed to ICU. Following her recovery, Thompson felt a profound sense of gratitude for the nurse who took decisive action. That “angel” became her inspiration, sparking a journey into the medical fi eld that eventually led Thompson to establish the OnPoint Institute, an organization dedicated to preparing individuals for careers in nursing.

“We are a non-profit community based educational organization,” Thompson said. “So what we do is we provide several services for those who are underserved.”

The institute offers an extensive range of medical training and certifications, including Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) programs, phlebotomy, caregiver training, and CPR certification. As executive director and owner, Thompson ensures that financial barriers never prevent a student from learning.

“If we don’t have grants for you, we offer discounts and do everything we can to help,” Thompson said. “We don’t ever turn anyone away.”

Thompson’s dedication is rooted in her own history. She grew up in a New York neighborhood struggling with violence and drugs, where addicts frequently occupied the roof of her apartment building.

“It was so bad. It was gang infested and that kind of thing,” Thompson said. “At this point we lived on the fifth floor that led to the roof. The drug addicts would sit on the roof and shoot up drugs.”

To escape that environment, her mother moved the family to Georgia. Thompson began her career as a nursing assistant and was encouraged by a neighbor to pursue higher education. Though she initially struggled with the entrance exams, her determination never wavered.

“Originally I could not get into nursing school,” Thompson said. “I could not pass the test to get into nursing school but I kept trying and trying.”

Eventually, she entered nursing school, graduated, and began working as a Registered Nurse. This career shift brought her financial freedom, a luxury she realized when she was finally able to purchase a sweater she had once considered an impossible waste of money.

Through OnPoint Institute, Thompson helps others achieve that same independence. She has been a nurse for over 30 years and continues to work in the fi eld to fund the school, often investing her own savings to keep the doors open. Her reward is witnessing success stories like that of Rosa Amezquita, who overcame a language barrier to graduate with the highest scores in her class.

“It feels wonderful because what I find is that many times we don’t have the same opportunity as those that are of a lighter color,” Thompson said.

Reflecting on her growth from an introverted girl in a difficult environment to the leader of an educational facility to the leader of an educational facility, Thompson remains humbled by her mission.

“My favorite part about all of this is being able to come into this facility and look at it and think about where I came from and to be honest with you, I just praise God because of where I came from and to have this is a blessing,” Thompson said. Located at 2295 Park Lake Drive, the OnPoint Institute continues to provide scholarships and grants to those ready to change their lives. For more information visit onpointinstitute.org