At the age of 12, Richard Samedra’s family migrated from the Philippines to southern Orange County, Calif., in search of a new life. Richard worked diligently to earn his high school diploma, but soon found himself looking for a better future when he was unable to find a good-paying job he could progress in at 23 years old. A friend of his had gone to Job Corps for glazing and told Richard that, without the program, he would not have been able to be making the kind of money he was. While still unsure of the career path he would want to take, he decided to enroll in Job Corps because he “owed it to himself to take a chance and see what else could be out there.” Though he was older compared to most students at the center, Richard found great success at Job Corps. 
After arriving on campus, Richard realized that he had an interest in the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. Unfortunately, due to a waitlist, Richard had to wait several months to begin his career training and often found himself frustrated.
“I felt like I was waiting around to do nothing, but I am so glad I stuck out the wait.”
Once he began his career training, Richard quickly got to work and earned his CNA credentials in a matter of months. He also made lifelong friends along the way and participated in on-campus activities such as the center’s recreational basketball league.
While reflecting on his time on campus, Richard said, “Job Corps is a place for students who are dedicated to themselves. You have to take it seriously when you are there, but it is well worth it. If you know what you want out of it in the end, they will provide you with the support you need.”
After finishing the Certified Nursing Assistant program on campus, Richard headed down the street to Long Beach City College, where he and many other Long Beach Job Corps students continue their education to become registered nurses. It was thanks to the many ways Job Corps set him up for success that Richard thrived in his studies. He has now been working as a nurse for 10 years and recently made the decision to go to back to school to become a nurse practitioner.
While he admits the structure and hard work that go into the program are not always easy for a young person, Richard thinks they are very necessary. “(At Job Corps) They hold you accountable. It is not always fun having to spend nights studying and waking up early to clean, but learning the importance of that is invaluable,” he said.
The biggest piece of advice he can give to students and those considering Job Corps is to “maximize what the Job Corps program offers you. It can make the biggest difference in your life.”
Graduated from Job Corps in: 2011 Employer: Registered Nurse, in school to be a Nurse Practitioner Hometown: Philippines/Orange County, California Email: richardsamedra@yahoo.com Submitted by: Previous Success Story Grad suggested him