Whether she’s drawing blood from patients or helping with the emergency department at the hospital, Jayra Polanco is consistently using the skills she learned at Northlands Job Corps to make a difference in people’s lives.
Jayra was born in Brooklyn and attended Fair Haven Union High School in Vermont. After graduating from high school, she briefly enrolled in college at Magdalen College of the Liberal Arts in New Hampshire. Jayra decided to leave college and took some time to figure out her next move. Her aunt’s friend suggested Job Corps as a great opportunity to train in the medical field, which Jayra was interested in and was not previously offered at her college. After applying to a few jobs, Jayra was accepted into Job Corps and knew she couldn’t turn the opportunity down.
Jayra enrolled in Northlands Job Corps in Vergennes, Vt., and quickly became active on campus. She was in dorm leadership and even became vice president and president of the Student Government Association. Jayra proved to herself that she could balance her extracurriculars with her training. She achieved her phlebotomy, HIPAA and COVID Contact Tracing credentials and passed the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant exam.
“I learned to think quickly and to be able to problem-solve. In an emergency situation, I need to be able to think quickly. I learned something new every day.”
During her time on campus, Jayra built lasting connections with residential counselors, recreation staff and other students.
“My counselor, his name is Don Lewis, he was the best. He tried to help me with everything he could.”
Unfortunately, Jayra only spent about a year on center before COVID-19 hit and was sent home for distance learning. While Jayra didn’t get the opportunity to do a work-based learning experience or internship through Job Corps because of the pandemic, she was able to get a part-time job in health care during this time working as a dietary aide in a nursing home in New York and gained valuable experience in her soon-to-be career.
Jayra returned to campus and graduated from Northlands Job Corps in August 2021. After
graduation, Jayra was looking to go out on her own and get a car along with her new career. Michaila Callis, Northlands Job Corps lead career transition specialist, helped her achieve both. Jayra now lives with one of her best friends from Job Corps. They live with her friend’s mother in New York for now and are looking to get a place together soon.
Jayra’s goal is to become a nurse practitioner. She is well on her way, gaining valuable experience in her current job as a lab support specialist at a hospital in New York. In the next two to three years, Jayra sees herself moving to North Carolina due to the shortages in medical staff. Thanks to her time at Job Corps, Jayra learned of her passion for helping the community, which she can achieve through her job every day.
Graduated from Job Corps in: August 2021 Employer: Lab Support Specialist, hospital, New York Hometown: Brooklyn, New York Phone: 802-884-5125 Email: Polancopeguero.jayra@live.jobcorps.org Submitted by: Becca Sweredoski Notes:
Source: Rosie Nelson, Community Outreach Coordinator, 802-877-0175, nelson.rose@jobcorps.org