Gavin Walden went from lacking direction and wanting a different purpose for his future to being a leader in so many ways, thanks to Job Corps.
At 16, Gavin was behind on his education, struggling with drug abuse, and constantly fighting. But Gavin made the decision to take back his life, and that’s just what he did. He enrolled in Carl D. Perkins Job Corps,
where he trained in Facilities Maintenance and took on multiple center leadership roles.
Gavin was a Career Preparation Program captain. He was sergeant at arms in his dorm wing and a member of the center’s Youth to Youth violence prevention initiative. His fellow students even voted him vice president of the Student Government.
Before Job Corps, Gavin was interested in joining the military, but the chances of his getting there were slim. Job Corps helped Gavin reach his goal by giving him the necessary education and specially tailored classes to help him prepare for his military entrance test.
On March 27, 2020, Gavin swore the oath of enlistment to join the Marines, and he left for boot camp in May.
“Anything that’s worthwhile will take a while; patience is key. Use every step to better yourself for the next,” Gavin said.
Graduated from Job Corps in: January 2020 Employer: United States Marines Submitted by: Center Submission