David Borja was born and raised in Guam and was always very close to his family and friends. He could never have imagined being apart from them. However, David was continuously working low-income jobs and wanted a change.
“Back home, I was going from job to job but never sticking with one thing for more than a year. I wanted a better-paying job to support my family, further my career and better my life.”
David heard about a friend’s experience at Job Corps in the United States. After thinking it over for a year, he decided to take the leap. It took a lot of convincing for his family to be supportive, but the big selling point was “It’s free!”
Job Corps provides career technical training and education program for students between the ages of 16 and 24 who are a U.S. citizen, a legal U.S. resident, or are a resident of a U.S. territory and/or are authorized to work in the United States. U.S. territories include Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa.
In 2019, David enrolled at Maui Job Corps in the Security and Protective Services program. His basic training included many hours of studying, computer training and learning the fundamental basics; but he recalls having a lot of fun too.
David worked for Eloni Palace, the last castle in Hawaii and popular tourist destination, for his work-based learning experience. He opened, monitored and closed the palace each day and helped customers as needed.
His favorite memories from Hawaii were sightseeing on the weekends with friends. He cherished those moments, whether they were exploring local beaches or going to the mall.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, David moved back to Guam. His mother passed away, and David knew he wanted to do something that would make her proud. He returned to Maui to finish his Job Corps training.
After graduating with his Security and Protective Services training, David moved from Hawaii to Kentucky to enroll in the Advanced Security and Protective Services training program at Carl D. Perkins Job Corps.
Now, David serves as a correctional officer at Luther Luckett Correctional Complex. Each day, he applies what he learned in Job Corps, from security to leadership, to diversity, equity and inclusion.
“One of my favorite parts of my job is learning people’s backgrounds. I treat each person I meet with respect. No matter what they did to get them here, they’re still people. I try to speak with them, keep them calm and motivate them. Some of the guys will be leaving prison soon and are so happy. I always tell them, ‘Enjoy your life out there and don’t come back.’ It brings joy to my life to see them leave and get a fresh start.”
For those considering Job Corps, David has important insight: “Job Corps is not a vacation. It might seem like it because you’re having fun; but you have to work, wake up early and approach it like a job. You have to do your best, and remember everything’s paid for, people are there to support you, and it will all be worth it in the long run.”
Graduated from Job Corps in: 2020; August 2021 Employer: Correctional Officer, Luther Luckett Correctional Complex, Oldham County, Kentucky Hometown: Guam Phone: 502-260-7226 Email: deborja56@gmail.com Submitted by: Lydia Henry