When Amari Omeke first walked through the doors of Delaware Area Career Center, he wasn't searching for a direction. Unlike many high school students still weighing possibilities, he already knew where he wanted to go.
His goal was clear: a future in pediatric medicine.
What he didn't have yet was a roadmap.
"I already knew my long-term goal was to become a pediatric practitioner," said Amari, a senior from Olentangy Liberty High School and a student in DACC's Biotechnology program. "What DACC has done is help me understand the roadmap to get there."
For Amari, attending DACC wasn't about replacing his high school experience. It was about adding to it.
He remains active in Liberty's film club, participates in school traditions and events, and spends time supporting friends and classmates. Along the way, he's built a second community at DACC.
"It's DACC and Liberty, not DACC or Liberty," he said.
That ability to keep one foot in each world has allowed Amari to pursue his interests while diving deeper into a field he has been curious about for years.
In a traditional science class, students may spend a few weeks exploring a concept. At DACC, Amari spends hours every day immersed in biotechnology. Through hands-on experience with aseptic technique, documentation, and micropipetting, he's developed technical skills that are directly connected to careers in science and healthcare.
But the biggest lessons haven't come from textbooks or lab manuals.
Through a partnership with Del-Co Water, Amari and his classmates analyze real samples that are sent back to the company for review. The experience has given him a glimpse into the expectations, responsibilities, and collaboration that happen in professional laboratories every day.
"It makes me feel like I'm already part of the workforce while still being a student," he said.
The exposure to industry has also broadened his understanding of the many careers connected to biotechnology. Learning about organizations such as Forge Biologics and hearing how DACC graduates have transitioned directly into the workforce opened his eyes to opportunities he hadn't previously considered.
Instead of simply confirming his interest in medicine, those experiences helped him refine it.
Today, Amari plans to pursue biomedical engineering in college, a path he believes will better align with his strengths and long-term goals.
That clarity has brought something even more valuable than a career plan.
Comfort.
"It's okay not to be sure," he said. "But having a roadmap gives me a sense of comfort."
That confidence didn't happen overnight. Amari credits DACC with helping him grow not only as a student, but also as a person.
He says the close-knit environment encouraged him to ask questions, seek help when needed, and build stronger relationships with classmates and instructors. The result has been noticeable growth in his work ethic, time management, and ability to prioritize responsibilities.
His family has noticed the difference as well.
His mother encouraged him to attend a sophomore visit day, taking what he calls a "leap of faith" that ultimately changed the course of his high school experience. Now, after watching his growth over the past two years, she has become one of DACC's strongest advocates. Inspired by Amari's experience, his younger sister is preparing to explore DACC programs of her own.
Looking back, Amari believes one of the greatest benefits of DACC is the opportunity to explore interests in a meaningful way.
Amari was initially interested in both Biotechnology and Culinary Arts, two programs that couldn't be more different. Yet that willingness to explore led him not only toward a future career, but to new interests along the way, including bioethics and the many questions at the intersection of science, medicine, and society.
His advice to future students is simple:
"Explore your options and take that leap of faith."
For Amari, that leap didn't change his destination.
It helped him see the path to it.
Learn More:
Biotechnology Program
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Photo by Jonathan Pannebaker, Digital Design Senior