Nurses like Joselin Sanchez Guarneros help save lives every day. But before she got to where she is today, she was the one who needed help.
“I was going down a bad path that involved alcohol and just not caring about my well-being,” Joselin said. “Job Corps saved me from me.”
She first heard about the free career training offered at Job Corps through an advertisement—but she thought it sounded too good to be true. Joselin kept the phone number, though, and when she realized that her life wasn’t headed in the direction that she wanted it to, she made the call. Adjusting to life at Cassadaga Job Corps Center was difficult at first—partly because of her rebellious spirit, but also because it was hard being away from her family in Queens, N.Y.
Joselin also had a few extra battles to face. She is a DACA recipient, and her immigration status meant that initially she did not qualify for financial aid. The center director provided her with an opportunity to write an essay about her experience as a Dreamer and why she should remain in her training program. She said it felt like a constant battle; but with time and perseverance, she was about to complete first her Certified Nurse Assistant credentials and then the Licensed Practical Nurse program.
“Job Corps gave me the opportunity to get my nursing license,” she said. “As a Dreamer, I feel that we already have it tough as it is, and I honestly can’t ever thank Job Corps enough.”
While she was studying for the Certified Nurse Assistant program, Joselin took part in on-campus leadership training and mentored other students. She also earned many credentials that would help her in her nursing career, including CPR certification. Once she began the Licensed Practical Nurse program, though, she didn’t have as much time to focus on other campus activities due to the intensity of her studies.
Joselin worked hard and graduated from Job Corps in January of 2018. Thanks to the help of Career Transitions Services, she was able to secure a job and find a place to live. She worked in Dunkirk, N.Y., for a year before moving back home to Queens. After some time as a COVID nurse, she decided to become a travel nurse. She says she absolutely loves getting to travel to different states for a few months at a time to help health care systems with staffing shortages and that she has gained many new skills and experiences.
Joselin left Job Corps with much more than her nursing license. “I learned how to talk to people, to be patient,” she said. “I learned to be a better person all around and to fight for what I believe in.”
It’s not just Dreamers like Joselin who dream of a better future, and Job Corps is a great place to begin for all kinds of people. When asked what advice she had for new students, here’s what she said: “Nothing worth having comes easy. The end goal is so worth it, I promise you.”
Graduated from Job Corps in: January 2018 Employer: Travel Nurse Hometown: Queens, New York Phone: 914-918-2268 Email: jossanchezg@outlook.com Submitted by: Hannah Purdy Notes:
Source: Messaged via Job Corps Facebook page