As a high school senior, Daniela Villela-Martinez found herself at a crossroads, uncertain about her career path and unsure how to navigate the challenges of being a first-generation college student. She had heard from friends about Polk Career Connect, a new workforce initiative created through collaboration between Polk School District, Polk County Chamber of Commerce and The Development Authority of Polk County. The two-week program was designed to connect students’ skills, interests and career goals into a career with a local employer through breakout sessions with industry and education professionals.
At first, Villela-Martinez hadn’t given it much thought. It wasn’t until two of her friends signed up and told her about the program’s unique benefits that she took a closer look. The possibility of landing a job with a reputable company, one that would not only provide a paycheck but also support her college education, was an opportunity she couldn’t ignore. As the first member of her family to attend college, Villela-Martinez felt like she was stepping into unfamiliar territory. The guidance offered from Polk Career Connect was exactly what she needed to help her pursue her dreams.
Once she applied and was accepted, her journey with Polk Career Connect began with an orientation week. It was an intense schedule, running from 8 am to 5 pm every day, filled with introductions to various companies in the area. Representatives from major employers including AdventHealth, Georgia Power, Atrium Health Floyd, Miura, Novo Health Services, Rambo Nursery, Polk County Public Services, and others spoke with the students and shared insights into their industries and the career paths they offered. As a person of faith, she values the importance of compassion and kindness, and AdventHealth’s focus on Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ deeply resonated with her on a personal level. She felt drawn to an organization that prioritized a supportive, family-like work environment, where team members uplifted one another.
Throughout the week, Villela-Martinez participated in activities designed to build both her technical and soft skills. She and her peers engaged in team-building exercises, learned the basics of workplace safety and received training on professionalism and how to develop a good work ethic. The program emphasized the importance of teamwork, and one exercise required each participant to contribute to a group project, highlighting how different perspectives can either strengthen or challenge a team. She thrived in these activities and absorbed every lesson on effective communication, conflict resolution and collaboration.
One of the most valuable parts of the program was the interview preparation. By the end of the week, she felt confident and well-prepared for her final interviews. On the last day, she went through a “round robin” of interviews with representatives from multiple companies. Villela-Martinez was offered a job at AdventHealth on the spot and she accepted the role with pride.
Today, Villela-Martinez works at AdventHealth Medical Group Primary Care at W 10th Street, where she brings warmth and a welcoming attitude to every patient interaction. She loves seeing the impact of her kindness, especially when patients arrive feeling nervous or tense. “Some people come in looking so serious, but once I greet them with a smile, their entire demeanor changes,” Villela-Martinez shares. “I love knowing I’ve helped make their experience a little brighter.” For her, this isn’t just a job — it’s an opportunity to extend her values into her daily work and make a difference in her community.
Through her role, she has discovered an unexpected passion for health care. Originally, she had planned to study business administration, but her experience at AdventHealth opened her eyes to new possibilities. She is now enrolled in Georgia Highlands College and will begin her studies in radiologic technology next spring. Working at AdventHealth has shown her that there are countless career paths within health care, many of which she hadn’t known existed before joining Polk Career Connect. “This job has given me a new direction,” she said “I’ve realized there’s so much I can do in health care, and I want to be a part of it.”
The journey hasn’t been easy. Balancing a full-time job with her educational goals is demanding, but Villela-Martinez wouldn’t have it any other way. Reflecting on her experience, she feels an immense sense of pride. “If it weren’t for Polk Career Connect, I’d probably be working at a fast-food restaurant or a retail store, struggling to pay for college, this program gave me a path I didn’t know was possible,” Villela-Martinez said. For her, being one of the few from her cohort to secure a full-time position is a personal triumph and a source of pride for her family, who has supported her every step of the way.
Chris Thomas, president of The Development Authority of Polk County, saw something special in Villela-Martinez from the beginning. He recalls her professionalism and maturity, noting that her work experience gave her a sense of purpose and focus that set her apart. “Daniela (Villela-Martinez) recognized the unique opportunity she had,” Thomas said. “She knew that this program was her chance to make a meaningful choice about her future, and she embraced it wholeheartedly.” Thomas and other program organizers are hopeful that more students will follow in Villela-Martinez footsteps in future cohorts, especially with AdventHealth now on board as a partner.
Polk Career Connect is still growing, and the success of participants is paving the way for others. The program’s collaborative nature — bringing together local businesses, the school system and government entities — makes it a powerful model for workforce development. Leaders like Chris Thomas are excited about the future of the program, and stories like Villela-Martinez’s highlight the life-changing impact it can have.
To other students considering Polk Career Connect, Villela-Martinez has this advice: “Give it a chance. Not everyone has this opportunity, and it’s worth the commitment. This program opened doors for me that I didn’t even know existed. It’s a chance to make your family proud and to build a future you can be excited about."