From Homeless High Schooler to Nursing Student; Young Albany Woman Realizes Her Dream at Phoebe’s Living & Learning Community
Albany, GA | August 21, 2025 – As Jhykeria Roberts sat in her sparkling new apartment in the Phoebe Living & Learning Community with a view of the hospital where she now works, she could hardly believe how far she’s come in the last couple of years.
“There’s nothing like having your own place. I love it. It’s so good,” Jhykeria said, flashing a big smile.
During her sophomore year at Dougherty Comprehensive High School, Jhykeria’s family was homeless. “Toward the end of my tenth-grade year, I lost my home, and I was bouncing from house to house and sometimes sleeping in my mom’s car when we couldn’t find a place to stay,” she recalled.
School became a daily challenge as Jhykeria struggled to keep up with college level courses while dealing with transportation issues and a lack of basic necessities. That’s when Dougherty County School System (DCSS) Career Transition Specialist Holli Sadler stepped in.
“We got really close, really quickly,” Sadler said of her relationship with Jhykeria. “She sets such a good example for other students. She is a young woman defined by her resilience and determination. Hard-working and focused, she pours her energy into every task, never afraid to put in the extra time it takes to reach her goals. Obstacles that might discourage others became steppingstones for her growth, fueling her drive instead of slowing her down. With endless effort and a steady heart, she pushed forward, making sure she stayed on track with her college classes and reaching out to me when needed,” Sadler added.
Sadler collaborated with Open Arms to find stable housing for Jhykeria, allowing her to focus on school. Keeping her in the Accelerated Career Program, also known as the DCSS ConnectED2Careers Program, allowed Jhykeria to get practical work experience while continuing her high school classes and taking courses at Albany Technical College (ATC).
“Open Arms set her up in an independent living situation with a life coach and gave her weekly goals, and they were impressed with her work,” Sadler said. “Her junior year is when it all took off. She had clinicals at Phoebe while taking a biology course in the Albany Tech phlebotomy program. This was a true college course. It was a lot of work, and the instructor said, ‘this is a 4-year college student’ because she also recognized Jhykeria’s determination and effort.”
Jhykeria admits the coursework was tough, but since she no longer had to deal with the stress of homelessness, she was able to focus and succeed. “I never let my situation get in front of my goal. I kept focusing on school and studying and not really focusing on my living situation,” Jhykeria said. “If I accomplish my goals, then I know I’ll be able to help my mom.”
Just two years after not knowing where she would sleep at night, Jhykeria reached her first goal of graduating from high school. She also earned her phlebotomy and certified nursing assistant (CNA) certifications from ATC. Now, she is enrolled in the college’s Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) Program, and she’s a resident in the Phoebe Living & Learning Community.
“Jhykeria is a shining star, and she’s exactly the kind of person we intended to invest in when we built the Living & Learning Community,” said Scott Steiner, Phoebe Putney Health System President & CEO. “This facility is providing career options for southwest Georgians who, previously, may have felt they didn’t have opportunities to find lifelong, rewarding careers right here at home. It is a transformational project that will have a positive impact on the people in our part of Georgia for many years.”
The 130,000 square foot facility, which opened a year ago on Phoebe’s main campus in Albany, serves as the home of ATC’s ASN, Practical Nursing, Nurse Aide and Phlebotomy Specialist programs. The first floor includes classrooms, high-tech lab space, study areas and offices. The top two floors have 80 modern, fully-furnished apartments, so students can live where they learn and train.
Jhykeria says the Living & Learning Community is helping her realize her dreams. “When I got the email that I got in, I couldn’t believe it. I was living in a homeless shelter and trying to get by and look at me now – graduating with my own place while going to school to be a nurse. I guess my dreams are really coming to reality.”
But Jhykeria’s journey is just beginning. She’s working as a CNA while she’s in school at ATC, and she plans to continue working at Phoebe after she earns her nursing degree. “I just want to help people, but my ultimate goal is to be an RN and get my bachelor’s degree and maybe go further into the medical field, maybe even be a doctor.”
She’s grateful for all the people at the school system and ATC and Phoebe who have supported and mentored her, and she’s proud to set an example for other students facing challenges.
“For other people who’ve been struggling or have been in a place where they don’t know what their outcome is, just stay focused,” she said. “Focus on school and your grades and maintain a good, positive attitude, and you will overcome – just like me.”