Be the Change is a class that introduces seniors to careers in the healthcare field at University Academy Upper School. The dual credit class is one semester and requires at least a 3.0 GPA in order to qualify. Be the Change is different from other classes at UA because of its unique format and the variety of opportunities it brings to senior participants.
This class welcomes guest speakers including nurses, healthcare administrators, pharmacists and more to help students learn about these fields of work. There are weekly guest speakers, and the rest of the week focuses on the healthcare topic for that week through different assignments and activities.
UA senior Ashlee Ford said, “I joined the class because I knew it was a great opportunity to network and build connections for my future.”
Be the Change is also an opportunity to help students plan for their future careers, which can be hard as a high school senior.
UA’s Upper School counselor practitioner, Mr. George Jefferson, is the co-teacher of the class with Dr. James Brady. They are the liaisons between the school and the Bluford Health Leadership Institute, who sponsors and leads the semester-long course.
Mr. Jefferson said, “One of the most challenging things is that when you’re a senior, you’re focused on graduation. So if someone asks you to think forward 10 years … for what you want to be in the future, it’s really hard because thinking down the line isn’t really where their mind is at all the time.”
This can make the class more complicated for some if they’re not thinking about their future goals. Additionally, in order for the class to be helpful and serve its purpose, students have to put in the effort.
Mr. Jefferson said, “The format is more like an executive format. If you take it, you get out of it what you put in.”
But this isn’t the only complex thing this class has to offer.
Ford said, “The most challenging thing in this class was the role plays. Having the mindset of the employee in that occupation was challenging.”
On the other hand, there are also lots of beneficial things that can come from Be the Change.
Senior Jamiyah Allen joined because she is interested in working in the healthcare field in the future. Allen said the class has been helpful because it provides information about lesser known healthcare careers.
“It could possibly be filling spots for fields that don’t have many people in them, but need people in them, because they don’t know much about it,” Allen said.
So remember, Be the Change hopes to expose students to healthcare jobs that might suit them in the future. Any students possibly interested in this career field should keep it in mind for their senior year.
Mr. Jefferson said, “If you’re a junior or an underclassman and you’re interested in Be the Change your senior year, make sure you stay on top of your grades and you’re really representing yourself well.”
