“ I thought my plans of working in the medical field were not going to happen. Now look at me! Working in a dream job and doing exactly what I want to do. I feel good at the end of the day that I helped various people that came into the clinic. That is exactly what I wanted. “ – Damaris Townes Accelerate U graduate
Damaris Townes graduated from North Lawndale College Prep High School (NLCP) in 2018. She had long aspired to be in the medical field as her mother used to work at Lawndale Christian Community Center, but Damaris struggled to find her path into the profession. During the pandemic, she initially received an offer from another medical assistant training program. She started to reflect on her dreams, how they felt more accessible, but she wanted to make sure she made the best decision for her next step. She learned about Accelerate U through her counselors at NLCP. She knew that Accelerate U was the right fit, applied immediately and was thrilled to be accepted into the program. With several of her cohort peers, Damaris completed her externship hours at Lawndale Christian Community Center at the same time as her coursework. Everyone at the community center loved her energy and enthusiasm: she was proactive in getting things done, eager to learn more, and always asked many questions. When she finished her externship, she had already interviewed with her manager and was offered a full-time position less than a week later.
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