After getting kicked out of his house in the middle of his junior year of high school, Kylar Brown knew he needed to make a change. He was attending Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School doing carpentry work but wasn’t doing well. Kylar heard about Job Corps through his father, who had attended Grafton Job Corps in 1998. He was going through a rough path and decided to attend Shriver Job Corps in Devens, Mass., not too far from where he grew up in Taunton, Mass. He wanted to get his high school diploma and a place to live and do carpentry.
“I loved it because it was my second chance.”
Job Corps was a fresh start for Kylar. He became one of the hardest-working students in the classroom after being known as a lazy student in technical school. At Job Corps, Kylar was part of the Student Government Association, completed his Carpentry training, and received his high school diploma and his driver’s permit and license.
“I had a lot of motivation while I was at Job Corps because it was my make-or-break situation … I really appreciate the program.”
Kylar was motivated to succeed. During his work-based learning experience, he worked on a job site for 6 weeks to complete carpentry work. He earned $700–$800 every 2 weeks and ended up saving around $2,000. He used that money to buy himself a car.
After Kylar graduated from Job Corps in April 2018, he went back to his high school to walk at graduation in May. He shocked his peers and previous teachers, coming back already having received his diploma and so much success.
“My overall [Job Corps] experience was great. I can’t even say how great it was—there’s not even the words for it.”
Job Corps instructors who were also in the union helped Kylar join the carpentry union. Kylar was one of the first students of a newer Job Corps teacher who made it into the union, and he gave Kylar a new toolbelt. They are still connected and see each other.
Kylar currently works for the carpentry union in Massachusetts earning a good wage. He makes $55 per hour and just turned 22 years old. He uses not only the technical skills he learned at Job Corps, but also the interpersonal skills, including organization and multitasking. He is working on saving money and gaining experience.
Kylar’s ultimate goal is to become a carpentry instructor at Shriver Job Corps. For now, he seeks to gain as much experience in the union as he can and then become the rec instructor to get his foot in the door and gain experience teaching.
“Nothing would be greater than working at the Job Corps that made me, me. The biggest advantage I have is I experienced all of it.”
As for Kylar, the only thing he wishes he’d done earlier is attend Job Corps. He wishes he had attended at 16 years old and gained this experience even earlier.
“If you really want to make a change, go. That change will be made. You can do it.”
“There’s no such thing
as the elevator to success.
There’s only the stairs.
Within those stairs,
you’ll eventually find
the tools you need
to build your dream tower.
And to learn how to live life
and not struggle to survive.”
-Poem by Kylar Brown
Graduated from Job Corps in: April 2018 Employer: Carpenter, Carpentry Union, Massachusetts Hometown: Taunton, Mass. Phone: 978-320-0086 Email: kylar_brown@yahoo.com Submitted by: Center Submission