“I went from being a high school dropout to being in the military. I am now independent, living alone and making my own money. I wasn’t on the streets, and I wasn’t homeless; but I needed to find a way out to do more, and I found it at Job Corps,” said Gary Job Corps graduate Tykuan Harris.
Tykuan was looking for an opportunity worth his while after dropping out of high school. His father had attended Job Corps when he was younger, so he suggested Tykuan look into the program for himself. Tykuan left his hometown of Danville, Ill., and headed to the Gary Job Corps Center in San Marcos, Texas. The first step was to get his high school diploma, and after passing, he shifted his focus toward the Corrections Officer training area.
Once at Gary Job Corps, Tykuan found a support system of staff and peers alike and still keeps in touch with his friends from his dorm and training area. It didn’t take long for him to take note of the importance of focusing on your training area. “I saw people leave th
e program because they broke the zero tolerance rules, so staying out of trouble and harm’s way was my priority. You have to take the steps to be accountable for your own actions and do what you need to graduate. I will admit, if it wasn’t for Job Corps, I wouldn’t be who I am today.”
That level of focus and commitment wasn’t always easy for Tykuan. “Job Corps was hard for me because I was always a quiet kid and I didn’t speak up often,” he said. “I knew I had to step up and take responsibility if I ever wanted to become a leader, so I had a lot of growing to do.” One Job Corps staff member who helped Tykuan do that was Captain Leeva of the Homeland Security program at Gary Job Corps. He was especially helpful as Tykuan was graduating from Job Corps and transitioned to the corrections academy before being hired at Wallace Prison. “Captain Leeva helped me find a place to live and supported me through the next steps of my career journey,” Tykuan said.
At the corrections academy, Tykuan used his newfound voice and leadership skills from Job Corps to excel. He quickly moved up in rank at the academy and helped to lead classes. Once he graduated, he started his position at Wallace Prison, where he was promoted after just eight months. Once promoted, Tykuan realized he had a larger calling—the military. Tykuan enlisted and worked at Wallace for four more months until his military career began.
Tykuan is in his second year in the military as an army specialist and is currently on base in California. He hopes to be promoted to sergeant in the next two years, and upon his discharge he hopes to start his own business. His best piece of Job Corps advice is simple: “Do it and do it right, and it will turn your life around.”
Graduated from Job Corps in: November 2019 Employer: United States Military, California Hometown: Danville, IL Phone: 325-728-7088 Submitted by: Sellars Huy