Damaris’s Story: Keeping the Promise of Higher Ed in Accelerate U
Higher education is changing. Today’s students are looking for more than the traditional four-year degree experience because, slowly but surely, the link between a college education and a good job has been fraying. For decades, a college degree was a ticket to a secure, well-paying career. But in today’s increasingly competitive job market that is no longer guaranteed. Many young adults graduate with few options, sometimes with considerable debt. Instead of spending four years taking out loans for a degree that may or may not result in a good job, students are looking for alternative pathways to their education that are affordable, accessible, and connected with the needs of today’s job market.
This is exactly what Accelerate U at National Louis University aims to provide. Accelerate U was founded in 2020 to provide students with a program to pursue on-the-job skills in today’s fastest growing sectors while earning credentials that build toward a full bachelor’s degree, culminating in a job offer upon graduation. This seemed like the right choice to Damaris Townes, the first student to garner a full time job after completing the medical assistant program at Accelerate U.
Damaris came to NLU not long after finishing high school, graduating from North Lawndale College Prep (NLCP) in 2018. She had long aspired to be in the medical field as her mom used to work at Lawndale Christian Community Center. During the pandemic, she initially got an offer from another medical 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.
A couple of weeks later she learned about Accelerate U. Mr. Horan and Mr. Kelly are her counselors from Phoenix Pact at NLCP, and they reached out to tell her about the program. She knew this was the right fit, applied immediately and was thrilled to receive the acceptance email.
With a few of her other cohort peers, she got an opportunity to complete 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 lots of 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.
Damaris lives by the motto, “We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.” If we are negative and look down on ourselves, that is how our experience will be. On the other hand, if you remain positive and build yourself up, things will get better. “Self-doubt holds us back. So when I feel like those thoughts are creeping in, I remind myself where I was a year ago,” she said. “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.”
While Damaris was the first, many more students have since been completing the program and being hired at hospitals and health centers all over the country. In Chicago, Accelerate U graduates are working at Lurie Children’s, Northwestern Memorial, Access Health Centers and Lawndale Christian Community Center. Some are focusing on work for now and others are exploring how to continue their degrees in nursing and other fields. Their certification gave them access to secure jobs with benefits so they can support themselves and their families (when applicable), as well as getting experience in health care. This foundation gives stability and helps propel them into their future dreams.
