Julia Akilimali- Ruwandan, Job Corps, IT, Paralyzed

Julia Akilimali grew up in Maryland with her three brothers and seven sisters. Her dad was Ruwandan and emigrated to America as a refugee from Congo during the war.

She attended Job Corps in Astoria and received a degree in IT, then continued on to study at Clatsop Community College. Her next step is to pursue a psychology degree where she can marry IT with it to create adaptive technology.

She works at a memory care in Warrenton.

When she was 17, she was in a severe car accident which left her paralyzed from the neck down.

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Transcript

Julia-Akilimali

SPEAKERS

Hungry Generation, Lauren, Jan Johnson, Julia

Jan Johnson  00:29

Hi, Julia. Welcome to women of the Northwest. I'm glad you're here

Julia  00:35

glad to be here.

Jan Johnson  00:38

Tell me about where you grew up. 

Julia  00:40

I grew up in Maryland. And then I came over to the West Coast. 

Jan Johnson  00:46

What was your family like? 

Julia  00:48

Oh, wow. I know. It was. It was it was amazing. 

Jan Johnson  00:52

Yeah, that's good. 

Julia  00:53

I grew up with seven girls and three boys. Always fun busy. Always things to do. 

Jan Johnson  00:59

Yeah. Where are you in the list? 

Julia  01:00

Second to last? Oh, almost the baby. Yes, technically, now the baby sister passed away. 

Jan Johnson  01:07

But yeah. Oh. Where did you dad work? What did you do?

Julia  01:14

Well, my dad is from Africa. Okay, so he had businesses in Africa. And then he came to America after war.

Jan Johnson  01:24

Oh, where in Africa.

Julia  01:28

He lived in Congo. Okay, but he's Rwandan. 

Jan Johnson  01:32

All right. And your mother too? Or? No? 

Julia  01:35

My mother's from Africa, as well. 

Jan Johnson  01:38

Okay. Yeah. All right. So have you been back there? Or have you been there? No. 

Julia  01:46

Yeah. Is that kind of a dream of yours to go?

Julia  01:49

 Yeah. To go back. Yeah.

Jan Johnson  01:52

 Have any of your other siblings gone back? 

Julia  01:55

Yeah. 

Jan Johnson  01:56

And how was that for them? What was it like?

Julia  01:59

Different because they weren't there for so long. To go back to a place that was once home, I guess still is home to them?

Jan Johnson  02:07

Yeah. That would be really different to go back to find out kind of your roots. And you know who your people are? 

Julia  02:18

Right. 

Julia  02:19

Yeah. 

Jan Johnson  02:20

And so you came out west to do what? 

Julia  02:26

A Bible internship. 

Jan Johnson  02:27

Okay, how long were you there? 

Julia  02:29

Nine months, 

Jan Johnson  02:30

nine months? What was that like?

Julia  02:32

It was amazing. I got to, you know, really indulge in Jesus. On a deeper level.

Jan Johnson  02:38

Yeah. And did you make some good friends?

Julia  02:42

Yes. Honestly, that's where I think I met my first real friends. And really,

Jan Johnson  02:47

yeah. What made the connection? 

Julia  02:51

Jesus. 

Jan Johnson  02:52

Yeah. Just being able to understand heart to heart. 

Julia  02:55

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. 

Jan Johnson  02:57

And so now you went to Job Corps? And what did you do there? 

Julia  03:01

IT 

Jan Johnson  03:02

And what kind of things did you have to do to learn? Like, were you? Specifically? 

Julia  03:08

Yeah, so we had to like, take our computers, put it back together. Write down the steps, things like that.

Jan Johnson  03:16

And how do you think you can use that? Where we go with that?

Julia  03:20

Just the knowledge I can do anything. You know, I can work from Microsoft one day.

Jan Johnson  03:26

That's something you could do anywhere, right? 

Julia  03:29

Yeah. Yeah.

Jan Johnson  03:30

 And then. So now you've been going to Clatsop college? What classes have you taken there? What are you pursuing?

Julia  03:36

I have taken a couple of different classes. I am currently doing a transfer degree, but my focus is on psychology and IT.

Jan Johnson  03:43

Okay, what do you hope to do?

Julia  03:47

I hope to be a UX designer.

Jan Johnson  03:50

Oh, okay. And then what will that take to do that? What kind of things it will take

Julia  03:56

either a bachelor's in psychology, or something that kind of goes towards that route, or a certificate in UX design.

Jan Johnson  04:07

I'm trying to picture how you would put those two together.

Julia  04:11

Okay, so user experience design, basically, you're building like software's. It can go from building software's or building like, a keyboard for like, someone who's disabled and it takes time. Like, if it's a software, you think I'm trying to attract what kind of age group, what colors would be attracted to them or like things. So a lot of psychology.

Jan Johnson  04:32

That's fascinating. That's really fascinating. I know that when my first husband when he had a brain tumor, when after the surgery, he ended up paralyzed. And so just trying to problem solve, like, what are the logistics of how to get dressed and what to do easier and how to communicate and how to do Yeah, so it is a fascinating fascinating study. That's neat. Maybe you will be invent something. Some new process or something with that, too. So where would you like to live when you're doing this job? In your dream job?

Julia  05:13

Dream job? A good question. I can't pinpoint certain area. I love Oregon. Yeah. Wherever God takes me. Yeah, wherever you want us to go.

Jan Johnson  05:25

Are you thinking you could also do something remotely? 

Julia  05:29

Yeah,for sure is like the best part about technology? Uh huh. I gotta be anywhere. Yeah.

Jan Johnson  05:34

Yeah. So wouldn't matter where you were. Yeah. Yeah. So you could do that here. You do some somewhere else as well. Who's somebody that's really inspired you? 

Julia  05:48

My Dad? 

Jan Johnson  05:49

Yeah. Why?

Julia  05:50

Because he left a land where he had everything. And he came. And he did everything for his kids.

Jan Johnson  05:59

Yeah. It was probably hard to leave. 

Julia  06:02

Well, there was a war. Yeah. I mean, so that part was, 

Jan Johnson  06:05

I know, but to be forced to do to be forced to leave as Yeah. And then to learn a new culture? 

Julia  06:15

Oh, yeah. Yeah. I mean, that. 

Jan Johnson  06:18

Yeah. That would be very difficult. Did he know anyone over here when he came?

Julia  06:22

Nobody. But because there was a war, a lot of people came together. So he knew people.

Jan Johnson  06:29

Right? Yeah.

Julia  06:31

Walking. Yeah. Because like America took it a lot. A lot of the refugees.

Jan Johnson  06:39

How is that? To think about what's going on in Ukraine?

Julia  06:44

Oh, my gosh, it's deep. Because I just think about the women. You know, I think about them leaving their husbands. Think about them leaving their kids who are over 18. Like it's hard.

Jan Johnson  06:55

Yeah. Really hard.  It's just all that atrocity is so it's so difficult to wrap your mind around how it can even happen. How can people be as evil as they are to? To treat other people destroy other people or not value life? That's It's overwhelming, I think. Think about that as just Yeah. So you are going to now go to university. Maybe from somewhere? Somewhere? You haven't quite decided yet. But yeah, but then if he did that, if you went and did it online, you could still stay here or you could go somewhere else. Yeah, yeah. Tell me about Job Corps when you were in Job Corps. What was that? Like? I mean, did you get to meet a lot of people from other places? Or did you?

Julia  08:02

Yeah, Job Corps. There's no one word to describe. There's no one word to describe it. And then a lot of people there. It's a blessing to a lot of people I've seen like people come in, who have nothing, you know, like, people literally will tell me their story of like doing drugs and things and like they found this place. That's giving them education, and it's free. And like they leave and like, I'll see their like Snapchat and Facebook and see that they're doing something with themselves. Like, yeah, they're nursing assistants, their dental assistants, and it's like, Man, this place isn't perfect, but it does a lot for a lot of people. And yeah,

Jan Johnson  08:45

yeah. How long? Were you there a year? Or how long?

Julia  08:50

I think to think two years.

Jan Johnson  08:52

Yeah. Yeah. And was there anybody who kind of changed your life at Job Corps? They made an impression on you. 

Julia  09:05

Everybody? Yeah. Yeah. 

Jan Johnson  09:09

Yeah. What is it that people? What is it that they connect? What makes you connect with them? What the teachers are the people that you encountered? 

Julia  09:20

The adults, the Oh, not the students throughout students too. 

Jan Johnson  09:25

But I mean, what kind of things? What were the qualities that would make you be attracted to someone? 

Julia  09:33

that was transparency. Transparency was a big one. I think I connected most with the students. Yeah. So transparency, dedication, the will to want to do better for themselves the world to want to achieve better for themselves. Freedom.

Jan Johnson  09:55

Yeah. And to maybe get out of to see that there. have some hope to get out of some other situate life situations maybe? And then yeah, so it's inspiring. Yeah, yeah. So you'd recommend to other young adults?

Julia  10:13

It's not perfect. Yeah, I recommend it to those who are dedicated enough to stick it through. And to get it done.

Jan Johnson  10:22

Yeah. And that's kind of a life. Life skill, isn't it? To have a vision and be able to keep you keep motivated and keep going. And yeah, to do that. That's, that's great. Do you have a job now you're working at? 

Julia  10:41

Memory Care. 

Jan Johnson  10:43

Okay, and where's that? 

Julia  10:45

 It's in Warrenton. 

Jan Johnson  10:47

Yes, a memory care? And what kind of people? What's it like there? Were you working with people who are sometimes remembering things? And sometimes not? Or what or what's, what's that like for you? 

Julia  11:05

humbling. 

Jan Johnson  11:06

Yeah. In what ways?

Julia  11:08

Because you have to be present with them. You have to be there for them.

Jan Johnson  11:17

So it's really do you feel like do you feel sometimes, like, they, even if you don't, even if they may not remember you each time you come in or something? It's, if you found like little tricks to, to be with them or to communicate?

Julia  11:41

Oddly enough, sometimes they'll remember you. Yeah, there was just one person. When I go in her room, and she noticed me tilting my head. You know, yeah, because I did that to her hand.

Jan Johnson  11:56

So it was a touch. It was a physical that did that. My mother had Alzheimer's. And it was, at the very end, I don't think she didn't really know who I was. But she knew the essence of who I was. And if we, if I started singing, she'd sing with me, you know, and that, and she remembered all the words to the songs and

Julia  12:18

there would be remember words to song. Yeah. We have a piano. And they'll come in and play. And they remember the keys. Really? Then? Yeah, they just started singing. I started singing alone.

Jan Johnson  12:31

That's awesome. Yeah, that's kind of Yeah, tender. It makes you just feel tender. To watch and listen. Yeah. What do you what would you say brings you the most joy in life?

Julia  12:47

Wow, it's a good question. Ah, god, honestly, there's a season in my life where it was hard to find joy. I found in His presence. So, Jesus,

Jan Johnson  13:03

yeah. And you were telling me that you were in a car accident? Tell me about that.

Julia  13:08

I was in a car accident in 2017. On my way back from the mall, and it left me paralyzed from the neck down.

Jan Johnson  13:17

from the neck down. Yeah. How long? Were you paralyzed? 

Julia  13:21

For six months, 

Jan Johnson  13:22

six months. That must have been devastating. And so you were in the hospital the whole time.

Julia  13:29

That was in the hospital. And I was also in a nursing home in a nursing home.

Jan Johnson  13:33

You're pretty young to be in a nursing home. around a lot of people who are not young. What gave you hope then,

Julia  13:41

God. Parents, they raised me in a way where we just believe miracles can happen. Like it was like, just unknowing. I didn't guess.

Jan Johnson  13:56

And you are not paralyzed. Now.

Julia  13:59

I'm not paralyzed right now.

Jan Johnson  14:03

And looking at you, no one would know that you had been paralyzed.

Julia  14:07

I think I have a scar over here.

Jan Johnson  14:10

That's with all your big hair. wouldn't know.

Julia  14:16

But yeah, my parents heard about your church conference in Tri Cities Washington called The Hungry generation. And they flew me out. And God healed me.

Jan Johnson  14:28

At  the conference, yeah. Wow. But a testimony 

Julia  14:33

God is good. 

Jan Johnson  14:35

all the time. Yeah. That's great. Okay, anything else you'd like to share? Well, we do tell what would you tell someone who was trying to figure out exactly what they wanted to do with themselves and kind of floundering. what are what what advice could you give to someone

Julia  15:01

 trying to figure out what to do with themselves.

Jan Johnson  15:03

Yeah, like, you know a direction and trying to

Julia  15:07

I would ask them what, what do you love? What is important to you? What brings you happiness and joy? And once you figure that out, pursue it

Jan Johnson  15:17

and pursue that. I love that. That's good. Yeah. All right. Well, thank you Julia. This has been fun. I can't wait to share this with everybody

Hungry Generation  15:29

The wheelchair she once sat in is no more you can see her walking freely for the glory .if you see the screen of your television right here, the wheelchair that she once sat in is no more you can see her walking freely for the glory. We want to see what's you can do. Let's see what God Almighty has done. Julia, where did you come all the way from

Julia  16:35

Baltimore, Maryland.

Hungry Generation  16:37

So you mean to say you were in a wheelchair for six months? You came all the way from Baltimore, Maryland just to be in the service today? 

Julia  16:45

Yes, 

Hungry Generation  16:46

Julia, we understand that you were in a car accident back in November of last year, that put you into a wheelchair, we want to hear and understand this a little bit more. So we can really understand where you are coming from. What was the problems that you were having after you got into that car accident, and you were laying in that hospital bed? What continued to go on from there.

Julia  17:07

After that I wasn't able to feel in my whole body wasn't able to move. My jaw was completely locked. I couldn't eat food at the time. And they were trying to put like a G tube in my stomach. But my family said no, because God is going to work miracles.

Hungry Generation  17:25

Amen. And we we want to know, you said that you came from Baltimore, Maryland. But where did the car accident take place?

Julia  17:32

The car accident took place in Nebraska. 

Hungry Generation  17:35

So you mean to say that after you had gotten to that car accident, the doctors now said that you needed to go to Maryland where the rest of your family was for your continued treatment? 

Julia  17:44

Yes. 

Hungry Generation  17:46

And what kind of things did the doctors want you to do? And how were you responding in your body?

Julia  17:51

They wanted me to do physical therapy. They wanted to do more testing to try to see if you know I can get better.

Hungry Generation  18:00

And did any of that work for you?

Julia  18:02

No, God works for me.

Hungry Generation  18:05

And Julia, we want to ask you really quickly. What was your expectation? You have been going through all of this pain. You didn't. You couldn't feel from your neck down. We saw that even as you came here. You're strapped into a wheelchair. What was it like for you even emotionally going through all of that being a perfectly able bodied getting into a car accident, and then your life changing?

Julia  18:27

It was It wasn't easy, but I was raised in a Christian home. So I knew that God can do it. I just continue to pray and cry out to Him. And it was kind of discouraging when I went six months long. But I just kept enduring or kept pushing through because the healer,

Hungry Generation  18:45

amen. We want to hear from your sister really quickly. If you could just come over here system. And what is your name?

Lauren  18:52

My name is Lorien

18:53

Lauren. When you heard the news of what happened to your sister, what was the first thing that you thought of?

Hungry Generation  19:01

When I heard the use of what happened to my sister? I was obviously I was in Florida, Tampa, Florida. I was there. You know, I also do ministry. So it was when I heard that she was in Nebraska. You know, my dad was in Maryland, and my mom was in Nebraska. So when I heard that I was so torn me I was like really broken because you don't want to hear news like that. Especially about your little sister. You know, she's only 17, She's turning 18 this year. So when I you know when that I when I heard that it was I was hurt. So my brothers were telling me to go and get my dad and so when I went got there we got we all started praying because they said they were making different decisions saying we're gonna bring her back to Maryland because the best care they weren't sure what to do. So they were transferring her from different hospitals. They even put her in nursing home. You know, because she had she was they were saying they wanted to put a G tube on her because she wasn't able to eat. You know, we're on our own. She was wasn't able to move on her own. She was not able to, you know, she wasn't functioning properly. She was wearing diapers everything. It was like it was severe. But God is a powerful God and He remains God.