Bergen College Grad Did Not Let Injury Define Her

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Diana Jordan was doing a job she loved. She was an emergency medical technician with the New York City Fire Department.

Then one day, she suffered a debilitating injury. Suddenly, her dream career came to an abrupt conclusion.

Jordan, a mother of three daughters, was brokenhearted.

"I loved being an EMT and working for the City of New York," said Jordan, a Lodi resident, "but I always knew that when one door closes, another one opens."

That next open door was starting on a path to become a surgeon. She enrolled in the surgical technology program at Berkeley College.

And on Friday, another door will close when she receives an associate's degree in Applied Science in Surgical Technology degree at the Prudential Center in Newark.

The next door in Jordan's life has already opened. She was hired by Hackensack University Medical Center as a certified surgical technologist.

"Hard work pays off. Success is loving what you do, giving it 100 percent, and never giving up," Jordan said. "No matter how many times you fall, always get back up stronger."

Jordan was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society during her time at Berekely.

One of Jordan's daughters is following her mother's example and pursuing a degree in health care.

"It makes me proud that I am an inspiration to her and others," Jordan said. "Students should always dream big and keep moving forward. There are always more doors to open."

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com