“At first, I was like, ‘This is so stupid, why am I here?’ This is how I was thinking at 16 years old. But from the moment I arrived on campus, the Finch-Henry [Job Corps] community opened its arms to me, from fellow students to instructors, to cafeteria and dormitory staff; everyone accepted me for who I was, showing me true kindness and understanding that I wasn’t used to.”
Philliecia Mack was worried about being too homesick to enjoy being on campus. She quickly discovered it wasn’t as hard as she expected, since she could still visit her family occasionally on weekends and during the holidays. She developed relationships with friends and staff at Job Corps that felt like a second family.
Throughout her Job Corps experience, Philliecia found ways to work and get involved on and off campus. While deciding on a training area, she greatly enjoyed the opportunity to branch out and teach children through work-based learning at Mississippi Head Start.
After job shadowing a few other places, Philliecia chose the Office Administration program. While on campus, she also served in a variety of leadership positions in the Student Government Association, including sergeant at arms, secretary and treasurer.
“I reminisce on my time at Job Corps often. I still keep in touch with people from Finch-Henry. We go to each other’s weddings, see each other’s babies being born and remain a tight support system. They are my family.”
Philliecia graduated in October 2011 with her high school diploma and Office Administration credentials.
Finishing her high school education and training program brought a huge sense of accomplishment to Philliecia’s life, but she wasn’t ready to stop there. Her instructors and advisor encouraged Philliecia to join the American College Test program and attend Northwest Community College.
After completing her first two years of general studies at NCC, Philliecia transferred to Delta State University in December 2016 where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in English. She recently completed a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor internship and plans to pursue her master’s degree in psychology.
“Every part of Job Corps helped prepare me for college and professional life. We had to wear uniforms, conduct ourselves professionally, set and lead meetings, practice time management, and so much more.”
In early 2021, Philliecia moved to McKinney, Texas, and worked as a mental health technician at an area crisis center. She completed a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor internship to further her education in mental health. As she prepares for an upcoming move to Dallas, she is working as an appointment setter for Wholesale Payments, Inc., and hopes to work for a rehabilitation and mental health center once she is settled in Dallas.
“My end goal is to become a substance abuse counselor and finish my master’s degree. I will not give up. Job Corps transformed my life by giving me a path to follow, and the rest is up to me.”
Graduated from Job Corps in: October 2011 Employer: Appointment Setter, Wholesale Payments, Lubbock, Texas Hometown: Greenville, Mississippi Phone: 469-790-5919 Email: phillieciamack@gmail.com Submitted by: Lydia Henry Notes:
Source: Nuvi