Andrew Frydenlund always hoped to find a career he would enjoy and a financially independent life.
At 8 years old, Andrew journeyed with his siblings from an orphanage in Lithuania to the United States. He was adopted by a family in Carmel, Ind., on Sept. 1, 2004. But he was living in a homeless shelter and working low-paying fast-food jobs before finding out about Job Corps.
In August 2018, Andrew enrolled in the Culinary Arts program at Atterbury Job Corps Center in Indiana. From preparing food for other children in the orphanage to cooking at his home in Indiana, to working in fast food, Andrew realized he had a passion for culinary arts. While on campus, Andrew worked as a server at Franklin College. Once he learned more about the art of cooking, he knew he wanted to keep going.
Andrew graduated from Atterbury Job Corps, then decided to pursue Advanced Culinary Arts at Treasure Island Job Corps Center in San Francisco, Calif.
While in San Francisco, Andrew learned about baking, food presentation and creating healthy,
delicious food.
As Andrew approached graduation, Job Corps staff helped him with every aspect of the transition, from living and working on campus to life after Job Corps, from interview lessons to creating a professional resume, to applying for jobs.
After graduation and making delicacies in California, Andrew decided to move back home to Indiana to live with his sister. Now Andrew works as a cook for Portillo’s in Indiana and serves hundreds of customers every day.
“Every day, I am applying the cooking, organization, time management, punctuality and problem-solving skills I gained from my time at Job Corps.”
In the next 10 years, Andrew dreams of managing his own restaurant—maybe even a Portillo’s!
His advice to new students? “Don’t give up. You will have harder days and easier ones, but it’s all worth it.”
Graduated from Job Corps in: January 2021 Employer: Portillo's Hometown: Lithuania Phone: 317-509-1662 Email: alvydasgrigitis@gmail.com Submitted by: Lydia Henry