The Caregiver: LEAD alum serves her community through healthcare

 Kayana Clarke has the kind of smile that puts you at ease. One look at her, and you know you’re in good hands. For Kayana, she’s always been a natural caretaker, so it’s no surprise she chose healthcare for her future career path. 

At LEAD Charter School, which implements the YouthBuild model, young people can get back on track and earn a high school diploma, along with certifications in career pathways like Construction, Information Technology and Allied Health. Earlier this year, Kayana walked across the graduation stage and headed straight into the workforce, ready to begin her career in the medical industry.

Today, Kayana works as a home health aide, where she gives patients the care that a hospital or nursing home may not be able to offer. Every day is different because every patient is different, so Kayana approaches each new day with a positive attitude. 

Home health aides like Kayana not only care for a patient’s basic needs - changing sheets, patient mobility, feeding and cleaning -- but they often provide the companionship that can fuel positive mental health. 

“Companionship really goes a long way. If someone needs company, it can boost their mental state. It just makes them feel better, like, they have someone there that listens to them, that talks to them, that maybe can relate to them,” she said. 

Kayana chose the home health track after her father had a medical emergency and she saw how he wasn’t getting the attention or attentiveness she thought he deserved.

“I decided to start the home health aide track,” she said, “because I wanted to feel like someone’s going to be there to take care of him the right way. My taking care of people -- it just comes natural.”

“If it was my parents or any of my relatives, I would want them to have the same level of care I give my patients, so I try to give that to everyone.”

One day, Kayana’s care can look like taking a walk in the park or going to the library. Sometimes, it’s helping a patient learn to use a spoon again. Some of her patients have dementia or are relearning to walk or shower on their own, so patience is truly a virtue. They’re older and they're going to make mistakes, she said, so she’s mindful to be patient as they remember and learn. 

She said she often leans on what she learned at LEAD about patience, communication and connection when caring for patients, so she stays mindful of how she talks to people, how she responds and how she reacts.

“Whatever I bring into the workplace, that’s how my day is gonna end up. So I’d rather walk in with a positive mindset and attitude that today’s going to be even better than the last,” she said.

Before she found LEAD, Kayana says she was a bright student but ran with the wrong crowd. She found a post about LEAD on Instagram, where she read about its YouthBuild model and how she could graduate with industry-recognized credentials. So, she applied and began her journey. 

“Once I got in, it was like 1, 2, 3 for me. I instantly felt like I found a family. The teachers, the love, the appreciation. They care about how you feel and they actually want to get to know you,” she said. “They want to know what you’re going through, and if they can help you, they will help you. Whether it’s finances, jobs, or school work, you have the help in front of you. Why not take it? And I took it. And I am where I am now.”

“Now, I get to wake up every morning knowing that I’m helping someone in a positive way, just like the people at LEAD helped me,” she said. “

Kayana said her role as a home health aide has given her the push she needed to pursue her dream as a heart surgeon. She’s currently studying Healthcare Management at Southern New Hampshire University or SNHU, with plans to graduate with an associate degree, transfer to Rutgers University and pursue nursing school.

“It’s going to take a while, but I know I’ll get there,” she said. “I realized if nobody wanted it for me, I had to want it for myself. No one’s going to do it for me. If I don’t do it, it’s just not going to get done. And I want a better life for my family and my future family.”