I was a home health aide while attending college. Being a caregiver was emotionally demanding yet rewarding.
A college student shares her experience working as a home health aide, highlighting the flexibility and emotional rewards of the role while balancing her studies. She eventually transitioned out of the field to pursue a career in technology.
Why it matters
The essay provides insight into the gig economy and the essential role of home health aides, often performed by students or immigrant communities, while illustrating career mobility.
Careb Bien-Aime has worked as a home health aide. Courtesy of Careb Bien-Aime Careb Bien-Aime worked as a home health aide while in college. She wanted a job that had flexible hours. She found the job challenging and rewarding, and would recommend it to others who are compassionate. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with 23-year-old Careb Bien-Aime, who is attending New York University. The following has been edited for length and clarity. I'm an information systems management major at NYU, after studying at a community college. I worked as a home health aide for a few years during college. My mom is a certified nursing assistant and introduced me to the job. I'm also very familiar with this line of work because it's really big in the Haitian community, which I'm part of.
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