A place with no distractions. A place where building a future and working toward goals is the top priority. That’s what Adam Flores needed, and that’s what Job Corps provided him.
Met with the reality that he might not graduate from high school, Adam’s school resource officer encouraged him to explore the opportunities Job Corps offered. His resource officer even drove him and three of his fellow high school classmates up to Boxelder Job Corps to take a tour of the campus and attend an information session. That’s when Adam decided to take the next step and applied to Job Corps.
Before Job Corps, Adam struggled with everyday distractions like social media and family and friend drama. However, once he arrived on campus and started his training, Adam said that one of the most impactful parts about his Job Corps experience was the opportunity to disconnect from the world and focus on a purpose.
Once he arrived on campus, Adam tried his hand at a few different training areas from Culinary Arts to Carpentry before ultimately deciding on Painting. Adam grew confidence in his skills throughout his training and excelled in his courses.
“I really love painting because, once you do the work, you can step back and see what you accomplished,” Adam said. “It feels great that you played a part in making it better. That’s what’s great about Job Corps. You can get the hands-on training you need to get better in your trade. Take advantage of that.”
And that’s exactly what he did. Adam earned his high school diploma and passed the ASVAB, the military readiness test, a path he decided to pursue while at Job Corps.
After his Job Corps graduation, Adam enlisted in the Air Force Reserves, where he started tech school for security. When he arrived at basic training, Adam said his time at Job Corps greatly prepared him for the new experience.
“Job Corps really helped me with the transition into the military,” Adam said. “Others were anxious, it was their first time being in a new environment, with a new routine; but I was familiar with it and I was able to adapt.”
Adam embraces the start of new beginnings and considers them new chapters of his life. Currently, he works for Subaru with plans to pursue a career in either law enforcement or auto collision repair once he finishes his basic training with the Air Force. The doors to both career options were opened for him at Job Corps. There, he overcame adversity and took back his future with the hands-on training and the classes he needed to become a skilled painter and enter the military.
“It can be hard to get out of the comfort zone you’ve been in for 16 or 17 years of your life, but it’s worth it,” Adam advised. “Don’t be nervous about the new environment.”
Graduated from Job Corps in: 2019 Employer: Subaru/Air Force Reserves Hometown: Sioux Falls, South Dakota Phone: 605-681-5135 Email: manflower18@gmail.com Submitted by: Center Submission