Apprentice Jonathan Tejada-Flores Remarks at DC HEAL Launch
Good morning, everyone. My name is Jonathan Tejada-Flores, a graduate of Columbia Heights Educational Campus and an alum of the Advanced Technical Center. I'm happy to share my story with you today and to introduce Mayor Bowser.
When I first started high school, I was a strong A+ student, but I had no idea what I'd like to do for a career.
I joined the Ward 5 Advanced Technical Center, or ATC, to fulfill a graduation requirement. But ATC turned out to be much more: I've studied general nursing, earned over 20 college credits, and completed clinical rotations.
My first semester was a challenge. I struggled with college-level classes and consistently arrived late. One day, Ms. Zimmermann, the ATC Administrator, pulled me aside and asked, "Jonathan, why are you always late?" And I told her with a completely serious tone: "Because I like to wake up naturally."
But over time, I matured. By senior year, I was showing up early, excelling in anatomy and physiology, and serving as both an ATC ambassador and Public Relations Officer for my HOSA chapter. I also passed my CNA written exam, which gave me the chance to apply my classroom learning in real clinical settings.
I have now taken the next step as a Health Information Specialist Apprentice at Whitman-Walker Health through the DC HEAL program. Although I've just started my apprenticeship, I've already had the opportunity to experience so much. Whitman-Walker is not just a clinic, but also an advocate for HIV wellness, a safe space for many people in the LGBTQ community, and a source of overall assistance for numerous individuals in the Ward 7 and Ward 8 community. At the same time, working in WWH, I'm also pursuing my Medical Assistant Certificate at UDC and my nursing degree at Trinity Washington University.
What makes an apprenticeship so important is that people don't have to follow one specific path after high school. Like me, I'm gaining hands-on experience, building professional skills, getting paid to work full time, and continuing my education all at once. And unlike high school Jonathan, I now wake up with an alarm clock. Now that's progress.
My ultimate goal is to be a medical-surgical nurse and eventually a cardiologist. Thanks to the Advanced Technical Center, DC HEAL, and Whitman-Walker Health, I'm on the right path.
Now, I'm proud to introduce a champion of youth apprenticeship in DC. Whether by celebrating Apprentice Signing Day, or emphasizing the link between the success of DC’s residents and the success of our economy in her 2023-2027 Comeback Plan, she fights to ensure that my neighbors and community thrive in the city that raised us. Please join me in welcoming Mayor Muriel Bowser.
