Helping Students See a Career in Senior Living
Senior Living wasn’t something in which high school teacher De’Andre Stevenson had any interest. But when Guilford County Schools gave him the opportunity to do an externship there this summer, he decided to give it a try.
And he’s so glad that he did, coming away with an important takeaway:
“For my students, I got that if you’re unsure what you want to do after school, ThriveMore is a place where you can start,” he said after spending several days at Brookridge in Winston-Salem.
De’Andre is a teacher at Smith High School, a magnet high school in Greensboro focused on preparing students for careers in biomedical and health sciences. Many of his students come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and he said they often balk when he tells them they should go on to more school after high school graduation. It’s a hard sell when they need to start making money today to help themselves and their families.
Because De’Andre sees these realities every day, he was excited to find out about the education and certifications that ThriveMore helps their team members achieve. ThriveMore will pay for CNA training in exchange for a commitment of time worked after, and then after CNA certification will continue to offer opportunities to train and grow team members after.
“It’s almost like they’re offering an apprenticeship, which I think more jobs should do,” De’Andre explained.
One person who made a big impact on De’Andre during his externship was Diana Fitzgerald. She spent time with De’Andre on his visit, sharing her own story at Brookridge, which was a perfect example of the types of opportunities offered there. She started working on the culinary team, then ThriveMore paid for her to get training and other education over the years starting as a CNA. Fast forward, and now she’s got her own office in the healthcare management area, and is the Admissions Director.
This investment in people is exactly what’s needed these days, De’Andre said, as the cost of living continues to rise and so many companies are putting profit over all else. Instead, ThriveMore is choosing to support its team members in practical ways that make their lives and careers better.
“We need help from each other, and I feel like ThriveMore is doing the right thing with helping people get their education,” De'Andre said. “I wish I knew of more companies that do things like that.”
Another thing De’Andre was surprised to learn during his time at Brookridge was how many other great career opportunities there are on campus. One of the highlights of his experience was his time with the maintenance team, as they showed him all the ways they work hard to ensure a safe environment for everyone on campus. Roles like this aren’t something that automatically come to mind when people consider working in healthcare.
“I think that’s a super important part of the medical field that is overlooked and not really thought about,” he said.
He was surprised to find so many different career opportunities at Brookridge, including one of his own special interests.
“The best part was I got to participate in a yoga balance class with some of the residents,” he said. “So that was fun for me, especially because I love sports. I’m an athlete and coach, so to be in there and work out with them, it felt rewarding.” He said he was honored to be welcomed so warmly into the residents’ home and invited to share in the experience.
Brookridge Executive Director Tatum Myers said she loves introducing others to the rewarding careers available in senior living.
“We enjoyed having Deandre visit Brookridge and are thankful for our partnership with Guilford County Schools as we help inspire the next generation of professionals,” she said. “We are excited to see this relationship continue to grow and expand as we work together to create opportunities and spark interest in this rewarding field.
Overall, De’Andre came away with a new perspective on careers in senior living. He’s already planning more connections, hoping to get approval to bring his students to campus later this year for a field trip to see it for themselves.
He wants them to learn the same thing he did: “You got an opportunity to grow with this company, and they’ll help you grow.”