Aliyah felt disconnected and out of focus for much of her early teen years. After a move to the suburbs in search of a more stable school environment, Aliyah continued to struggle and dropped out of 9th grade at the age of 15. She spent the next four years broke and adrift, couch-hopping from one family member to another. At 19 and pregnant, Aliyah decided it was time to find a better path for herself and for her soon-to-be-born daughter.
She found YouthBuild Charter High School, enrolled and grew personally. With new focus, she was selected by her guidance counselor to participate in Bridge to Employment (B2E), a partnership program run by JEVS and the Einstein Healthcare Network. This high school to career program helped her focus on life after graduation and on a career path. While enrolled in B2E, she became a quiet leader in the classroom, demonstrating the skills and maturity she would need for success on the job.
After flourishing in a month-long, hands-on externship experience and impressed by Aliyah’s responsible nature, Einstein offered her a full-time position at the Einstein Medical Center Emergency Room in Elkins Park. The 22-year-old is confident that she found her calling in the health care field and is focused on rising through the ranks. Her hard work and focus has led to success at work and at being the role model for her three-year-old daughter McKenzie that she hoped to be.
> The Philadelphia Tribune: Inspiring Philadelphia women honored at ‘Strictly Business’ luncheon.