Job Corps works.

After graduating from high school and attending University of Indianapolis for a while, Kaylyn decided college wasn’t the best fit. She started working in retail, but Kaylyn didn’t see herself moving up, working a job with little to no growth opportunity. She was also looking to move out of her mother’s house and needed more income to be financially independent. Kaylyn was looking for a better future.

Lisaira has always had grit. She grew up helping her dad work with trucks and racehorses, riding bulls with her siblings, and wrestling on her high school team.

Aaron is an IT administrator, cinematographer and professional training presenter for the U.S. Department of Labor. He is also a mentor, professional speaker and graduate of Job Corps.

Michael always knew he wanted to work with electronics. He wrote his first interactive electronics program in his eighth-grade history class and is now a leader at one of the largest consumer electronics companies in the world.

During Cassandra’s time in the Don Young Alaska Job Corps Construction program, the center began a work-based learning program with H-5, a local construction company that builds everything from apartment complexes to business plazas. Due to their rapid growth in the area, the company soon looked to Job Corps students to help meet their growing demand.

Erek always knew that he was capable of achieving more in his life. Growing up in Utah, he was an avid outdoorsman but was never able to marry his love for the outdoors with a fulfilling purpose or career. After some searching and asking around, an old friend from high school mentioned Job Corps.

Chellbie found out about Job Corps during her senior year of high school, as she was struggling with school and a less-than-healthy home situation. When her high school counselor suggested that Chellbie check out the program and told her she’d be able to earn her high school diploma there, she jumped at the opportunity.

“I couldn’t be prouder to be a double graduate of Job Corps. I still use my Certified Nursing Assistant license to this day 15 years later.” After graduating from high school in Atlanta, Briana Gosier knew she wanted to do more than just babysit for the rest of her life. She just wasn’t sure where to go or how to get there. After her older brother and cousin experienced success at Job Corps, she decided to enroll in the Montgomery Job Corps Center in Alabama, two hours from her native Atlanta.

When Alvin was 18, he was working a retail job and felt directionless. Alvin had always dreamed of being successful and passionate about his career. He also knew that college wasn’t going to be a reality for him and that he’d need to find another path to follow his dreams.

Chicago native Domenica was feeling lost with no direction and not really sure what she wanted to do with her life. She decided to enroll in Job Corps at the Paul Simon Chicago center not knowing what attending Job Corps would accomplish for her, but knowing it was better than wasting more of her youth feeling “stuck.”

After Michael was expelled from high school, his father stepped in and told him about Job Corps. He knew about the program firsthand, having graduated from Earle C. Clements Job Corps in the 1980s. So, on the advice of his father, Michael left Miami to start Culinary Arts training at his dad’s alma mater.

In October of 2013, Wyatt's life underwent a big change when he enrolled at Tongue Point Job Corps Center in Oregon.

Quinton was a student at Bethune Cookman College and on track to pursue a successful career, when the unexpected happened. His grandmother, who had been helping to support him through school, passed away. Devastated, he spiraled down a path of drugs, partying and crime with no direction and no reason to find a way out. After losing his job, apartment and car, he finally decided his life needed to change.

After graduating from high school, Alex worked at Walmart, JCPenney and a Vietnamese restaurant. He quickly realized he wanted more out of life. He didn’t just want a job; he wanted a career. 

When Christine was 16 years old, she dropped out of high school. She was experiencing homelessness and was scared for her future. She was looking for stability and knew she needed “something greater” for her life. That’s what brought Christine to the Glenmont Job Corps Center. But what helped her stay, graduate and go on to a successful career was her drive and passion to make the world a better place.

Matthew moved a number of times in his life, but his most important move was for Job Corps. Matthew spent most of his childhood in Sitka, Alaska, where he first developed an interest in computers. He was able to pursue this interest in high school, but after graduation, he realized he didn’t have the funds to attend college.

After serving in the Marine Corps, Scottei found himself uncertain about his next steps. Comfortable with structure and the opportunity for rapid growth in the military, he felt that returning to traditional schooling was too slow and inflexible.

Nicholas was homeless in 2019 and in search of a better future. Taking the advice of his sister, Nicholas enrolled at Cleveland Job Corps in Ohio, where he could get career training and have a safe place to live. He decided to pursue Carpentry and received the hands-on training he needed for a successful career.

Growing up in Ogden, Utah, Thaddaeus had always known about the Clearfield Job Corps Center but never understood the impact of the program until he experienced it himself. Before joining Job Corps at the age of 22, Thaddaeus held down a variety of odd jobs: a teacher’s assistant, customer service representative at Home Depot and finally a caretaker for an elderly veteran. It was this caretaker role that spurred his interest in helping people and inspired him to pursue the Advanced Emergency Management training program at Job Corps.

Dago continues to give back to his community as he advocates for the prevention of violence, aggression and bullying.

Kiona is an official journeyman boilermaker, traveling around the country to work on projects where she uses her advanced welding skills on difficult projects every day.

Mohamed, a Somali refugee, was forced to leave his country in 2010. He left behind family and friends for a life in America and an uncertain future.

Lydia is a registered nurse, a certified case manager, and the California Statewide Case Management director of Medi-Cal Programs at Anthem Blue Cross.

Before Job Corps, Sara had completed a couple of years at community college, but she didn’t know what she wanted to do next. Her roommate found out about Job Corps, and they both decided to join.

Charles is the executive chef at Catch 54, a high-quality seafood restaurant considered one of the best waterfront restaurants in Delaware. Getting the job was no accident for Charles. His years of hard work and training gave him the opportunity to succeed.

Ricky had no clue that his time at Job Corps would come to an end due to a global pandemic, but he also didn’t know he would end up working at a top solar installation company in New Jersey, Solar Landscape, making $65 an hour.

Rashaan built his first computer at age 13. Now, he works for one of the most recognizable names in information technology worldwide—but the journey to his current job wasn’t an easy one.

At 16 years old, Anella was pregnant and unable to attend school. Her aunt encouraged her to explore what opportunities Job Corps might provide, and she went for it. She had every quality it took to become a successful businesswoman; all she needed was an opportunity. Thankfully Job Corps was able to provide that.