When Angela Felix learned she was pregnant and moving to Indiana, she knew she wanted a more stable life and better income for herself and her child. She knew the first step toward achieving stability was to complete her education. As she researched, The Excel Center®, Goodwill’s free high school for adults, caught her attention.
“The staff talked about helping me get a certification and a career in a field I want,” said Angela.
Angela enrolled in The Excel Center in July 2023, hoping to enter the health care field after graduation.
“The support is different,” said Angela. “The staff really has a drive to help people get their diploma and set them up for success.”
After Angela earned her medical assistant certification, she received help writing her resume. School staff also provided reference letters. With this employment support, Angela could finally enter the health care field as a medical assistant for Riley Children’s Hospital.
Through The Excel Center, Angela also had access to a life coach, who helped her schedule classes and find suitable resources. Her life coach connected her to Goodwill Nurse-Family Partnership® (NFP), a program that pairs first-time moms with registered nurses. Goodwill NFP could provide the extra help that Angela wanted throughout her pregnancy.
“I don’t know what I would do without my nurse,” said Angela. “She helped me physically, mentally and emotionally. Sometimes I just need someone to talk to and make sure I have a plan for the future.”
Goodwill NFP nurses walk alongside parents until their children turn two-years-old, not only delivering trusted information on child development and care, but also helping parents achieve their personal goals. Knowing that Angela wanted to become a medical assistant, her nurse helped her find a program that was accepting students.
After graduating from both Goodwill NFP and The Excel Center and achieving her employment goals, Angela is ready to take the next step in her education and career. As of January 2025, she has applied to Indiana University and is eager to learn her acceptance status. She has big ambitions for the future, including becoming a NICU nurse and opening her own business to help young people with their health care career pursuits.
“I’m where I want to be in life right now,” said Angela. “I feel like I could do anything. With the help of my nurse and life coaches, I know I’m going to be wherever I want to be in life.”