What do you do if you are a college student looking for an on-site training program to learn how to become a leader in the field of aging services? Well, if you are Penn State University student Elijah Tapp, you have to be willing to see where the journey takes you.
Elijah started studying Political Science but, as many students do, changed his major along the way. He went from healthcare spending to Health Policy and Administration, and there was a definite shift in his interest and passion. He found encouragement from a professor with a senior living background who helped him with his next steps.
“I looked for an AIT (Administrator in Training) program for a long time, starting right after I completed my coursework,” shared Elijah. “I hit the pavement, writing letters and making phone calls to senior living organizations asking if they would be willing to host. There was a lot of energy that had to go into that search.”
Thankfully, Elijah found inspiration from a professor with a senior living background who walked him through the steps to becoming a licensed NHA, which connected him with the opportunity at Barclay Friends. Elijah shared that finding the opportunity, which allowed him to live locally and afford his student loans and other financial responsibilities, was life-changing. He has also received additional benefits from the Quaker-inspired model program.
“A big part of the Quaker philosophy is that every voice matters. I’ve really been encouraged to experience things for myself, not just observe what people are doing but have the opportunity to get involved. The values of listening to every person, finding ways to gain feedback from everyone, and staying aware of what’s going on have been modeled for me really well,” shares Elijah.
Learning to listen was one of the most significant takeaways Elijah got from the whole experience. He was exposed to many role models and learned to be innovative from the staff and residents. He also learned about the facility from an operations standpoint, which was a nice bonus. Everyone can teach you something if you are willing to learn!
His advice for future AIT Program participants? Get involved now. Don’t wait!
