When Ralph Jean Baptiste arrived in the United States in 2014, he soon learned that due to his lack of English he wouldn’t be able to enroll in the Connecticut school system and finish his high school diploma. He decided to independently enroll in English classes so that he could go back to high school; but then his cousin, who had previously attended Job Corps, told him that the Job Corps program was a great way to not only learn English and earn his diploma, but also to cement himself into the American workforce. The variety of training areas and employer partnerships would soon become his greatest resource.
He enrolled at Northlands Job Corps in Vermont and quickly earned his high school diploma, along with his Home Building Construction credentials. While he enjoyed construction, he wanted to learn a new training area and was interested in the advanced training Transportation Communications Union at the Shriver Job Corps Center.
While on center, Ralph Jean had immense support from his teachers and staff, who saw his dedication to learning English. They set him up with a job in the cafeteria so that he could not only earn extra money, but could also interact with all the students and staff and use his English outside of just his training. He got involved with the community outside of Job Corps as well, becoming a soccer coach for elementary school students. He also participated in work-based learning with a local painting company, Acorn Painting, and was able to use these experiences outside of the center to build up his confidence and get acclimated to life in America.
He was also able to find great support from the other students who were immigrants. They bonded over understanding the language barrier and over leaving their families behind for the possibility of a greater life. While most of the other students grew up not far from the center and were able to visit their families over holiday breaks, the immigrant students found a community within themselves and encouraged each other to keep going when things got hard.
“I told myself and my friends that we needed to recognize why we left home and what would make it worth it to leave. If you don’t have that as your purpose, you won’t make it. But if I can do it, when I barely knew any English before, I know that anyone can.”
In 2017, Ralph Jean was hired as a ticketing agent with Keolis Commuter Rail Services, and after three years in that position, he successfully tested in to be an assistant conductor. He loves his job and is grateful to have found a job that he not only is good at, but genuinely enjoys.
“Job Corps made me a better person because I had to learn how to make the best decisions for me fast,” Ralph Jean said. He would challenge anyone who is looking to learn English and set themselves up for a successful career in America to consider Job Corps. “They provided me all of the support I needed and even helped me find a job after graduation. I hope to one day make a documentary about my experience and the ways that I was able to find security in this country as an immigrant. The best thing you can do is try,” he said.
Graduated from Job Corps in: 2015 Employer: Keolis Commuter Rail Services Hometown: Haiti Phone: 860-514-3293 Submitted by: Sellars Huy Notes:
Source: Center Submission (Denise Shultz at Shriver JC)