From Disillusionment to Dedication: How David Licea Found Happiness in Helping Others

In late December 2022, David Licea was approaching his one-year work anniversary at a major corporation specializing in automation and software solutions. At 21 years old, he was the youngest sales executive, quickly ascending the corporate ladder. Despite this, he felt a profound sense of disillusionment.

“I got really disillusioned working in that finance sales-y world,” Licea said. “Once I entered the field, I realized this wasn’t for me.”

Everything changed when, one day at church, a sermon on the joy of giving to others made him consider the possibility that true happiness might come from giving back to his community.

Licea took that sermon to heart. He reasoned that although he didn’t have much to offer materially, he could give his time. So, in January 2023, with an emergency savings fund to support himself for six months, he boldly resigned from his job and searched online for volunteer opportunities close to his East Los Angeles home. This search led him to Adventist Health White Memorial’s Healthcare Workforce Development Program. He started volunteering in March and quickly felt rejuvenated.

“Being in that environment, especially in the emergency department, it was like, wow, I feel like I’m living again,” Licea said.

Seeing the positive impact of his healthcare volunteer work, from restocking supplies to bringing fresh towels to patients, confirmed for Licea that he was on the right path and inspired him to commit to a career in healthcare. Fascinated by emergency medicine, he began pursuing his phlebotomy license and certifications in basic life support (BLS) and advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS), aiming to become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). The demanding nature of these studies required him to pause his volunteering service temporarily, but this pause was not a setback. Rather, it marked the start of a significant new chapter in his career development that aligned with his personal and spiritual goals.

By June 2023, Licea had earned all the necessary certifications and secured an EMT position at a local hospital. Building on this foundation, he set his sights on a long-term career in nursing and enrolled in all the prerequisite classes he needed to apply to nursing school at Los Angeles City College. With his life and academic pursuits organized by the end of September, he felt prepared to resume his volunteer work.

Around the same time, Alicia Roman, Volunteer & Workforce Development Program Manager, needed more volunteers because of enhancements to the program. A generous grant from Bank of America created a new paid internship opportunity. Additionally, a new Patient Safety Volunteers Initiative was created to train volunteers to educate patients about fall prevention, the leading avoidable hazard in hospitals, and how to assess patient rooms for safety issues.

Recalling Licea’s previous dedication, Roman invited him to rejoin the Healthcare Workforce Development Program as a paid intern. With six months of EMT experience and improved time management skills, Licea eagerly accepted and began his second stint as a volunteer in January 2024. He quickly emerged as a leader, adept at training younger volunteers and engaging with patients.

One impactful interaction occurred when Licea and his team visited an elderly Latino patient to conduct a safety audit and discuss fall prevention. The patient warmly greeted his young visitors in Spanish and inquired about their roles and responsibilities. As their conversation progressed, the gentleman shared details about why he was in the hospital. This heartfelt exchange fostered a genuine connection between him and Licea. As the visit concluded, Licea reassured him, “Jefe usted está en un buen lugar. Aquí te cuidarán muy bien.” (“You’re in a good place. They will take good care of you here.”)

Licea’s experiences as a volunteer in the Healthcare Workforce Development Program —providing culturally sensitive care to patients in a hospital setting and observing caregivers at Adventist Health White Memorial — were transformative, gave his life meaning and helped him refine his career goals. Moving beyond his initial interest in nursing, Licea is now a pre-med student enrolled in the Bachelor of Medical Sciences program in Arizona State University’s online program. Upon graduating in 2026, he plans to attend medical school, aiming to specialize in emergency medicine or family medicine, building on all his experiences at Adventist Health White Memorial.

More importantly, these experiences have also fulfilled his deeper personal quest for happiness. In discussions about his future, particularly when asked if he would consider leaving his community for career opportunities, Licea consistently affirms his commitment to his roots by answering, “I don’t want to move anywhere… because I feel called to help out the community I grew up in and to give back.”

Would you like to encourage and support the next generation of healthcare leaders? Invest in them and our community today through a gift to the Healthcare Workforce Development Program.