Jennifer Hallmark moved in with her older sister when she was 14 because her mother was hospitalized. She was being homeschooled during this time, but soon stopped her studies to work. It wasn’t very long before Jennifer realized that most jobs required a high school diploma or GED, so she applied for the Job Corps program at the Blue Ridge center in Virginia to help her earn her diploma.
“Stepping onto the bus to come to Blue Ridge was the start of a brand-new chapter in my life,” Jennifer said. “I had never been away from my family or hometown, but I knew I had to do it for myself.”
Jennifer enrolled in the Certified Nurse Assistant program, and after completing her clinical rotation at Francis Marion Manor, she knew that it was her calling. Jennifer also earned her high school diploma and Billing and Coding certification while on center. She enjoyed being involved in the community through volunteerism and considers Marion, Va., – where the Job Corps center is located – her second hometown.
After graduating from Job Corps, Jennifer decided she wanted to continue helping people and enrolled in AmeriCorps. She was stationed in Vinton, Iowa, where she participated in a year of community service work. The experience allowed Jennifer to expand her horizons even further as she completed service projects across six states with a team of young adults from various backgrounds.
Jennifer now lives in Grand Junction, Michigan, with her husband and son. She works as a Certified Nurse Assistant/Medication Specialist at Bickford Senior Living and is taking medical massage therapy and medical science classes.
“Life gives you roadblocks all the time, but it’s up to you to build a better path for yourself,” said Jennifer. “Don’t let anyone or anything stand in your way of achieving a better you.”
Graduated from Job Corps in: February 2014 Employer: Bickford Senior Living Submitted by: Center Newsletter