Early in her program as a Medical Assisting student, Davian George tragically lost both her mother and her stepfather within a week of each other. This staggering loss would forever change her and her siblings’ world.
Understandably, school was the last thing that felt like a priority, especially because Davian had been left as the sole guardian of her four siblings (ages 17, 15, 13, and 11) in addition to her own son, age 7.
“It was so hard,” Davian says. “But the people in at Carrington did not give up on me, and they did not let me give up. They knew my mom was excited for me to be in the program, and she would want me to keep going. I had to make myself proud.”
Davian’s support team helped her find a different program—one that she could attend online. She decided to transfer her enrollment to Medical Administrative Assistant, allowing her to attend class from home while staying with her son and siblings, who needed a lot of emotional support. Despite the trauma and grief, Davian was there for her family, completed her program, and graduated in June of 2025.
Angel Lowe, Director of Enrollment Services at Carrington College, San Leandro, was one of the staff members who got to know Davian. “Davian was determined and resilient in her pursuit to finish, not just for her own child but to be an example for her siblings, to let them know that despite what she went through, you can achieve greatness.”
Here is more about Davian’s path to graduation, a new career, and how she continues to honor the memory of her mother, who never stopped believing in her.
What did you do before you enrolled in the program at Carrington College?
I was working before as front desk coordinator for human resources.
When you were looking at the different options for online programs, what made you want to learn Medical Administrative Assisting?
I felt that medical administrative assisting was a good fit for some of the skills I already had and could build upon, such as learning the office, organization, phones, scheduling—it all came second nature to me.
Tell us about your experience in the program. What was your favorite part?
My favorite part was when we did our Zoom call, and I finally got to see classmates’ faces! I made a lot of friends in the program, and we became close. We see each other in person now and go to lunch. I connected with one of my classmates who also suffered a loss. I just met a lot of great people.
I can see now that God had a plan, even though it’s been so hard. Going to school, finding a new career, it’s not just about me anymore—I want to be a good role model for my son and my siblings.
I recently showed my sister how to pay bills when she turned 18, and I think that made it real for her—being an adult—and she wants a career. She’s seen that it’s possible. She plans on attending Carrington and I’m excited for her.
Where are you working now?
I’m working at a local family clinic as a medical administrative assistant. I am really enjoying it.
What is a typical day like for you at work?
I schedule appointments, take phone calls, and I am generally the “busy bee” in the office! I love to make sure things are running smoothly, especially at the clinic, where it can get hectic quickly.
Do you have plans to further your education or career?
I plan on going back to school to become a Registered Nurse (RN); it’s my dream job. I have a true passion for helping others, and when I had direct, one-on-one experience with RNs in the NICU, it was a rush. I knew then that it’s what I’m supposed to do.
Is there anyone you’d like to mention who inspired or mentored you?
Miss Angel Lowe, the program director, and Vanessa Lewis—those two inspired me not to give up on myself. I am so thankful. If it wasn’t for them, I never would have stayed in school, I would have just worked and struggled to keep the lights on, put food on table, and put clothes on the kids’ backs. But they surrounded me with support, calling and texting me, telling me, “You can be there with those babies, we’ll find a way,” which is when we found the online program for me to do. It was such a relief, because my siblings were not doing well; they had experienced trauma, and it was a fear of mine to leave them alone.
Angel and Vanessa also went above and beyond by helping me sign up for food assistance and helping me find a therapist. It isn’t a regular “job” the people at Carrington do—they mean what they say when they say they help their students. They care, and they make sure that every student that walks in to enroll also walks out with a certificate or diploma.
