“I was stuck, and it was terrible. To sum it up, nothing was happening. I spent three years feeling like I was wasting my life.”
Tyreek spent most of his time taking care of his cousin at home. He was living in a “dead area” with no work opportunities around him.
Realizing Tyreek needed help getting back on his feet, his aunt helped him through the enrollment process with Job Corps. Tyreek enrolled in the Tile Setting program at Oneonta Job Corps Center in New York and discovered right away he had found the key to a successful career.
Going into Job Corps, Tyreek expected it to be like boarding school and that he would hate his 
operations.
life there. He ended up meeting a lot of people and enjoying the structure Job Corps offered.
“Once I started getting involved and getting to know other people, I saw the value in being in an environment like Job Corps.”
Tyreek was active in lots of extracurricular activities on campus, including a video games club, chess club and, almost, a drag club. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the drag club never got off the ground; but Tyreek had looked forward to helping his campus become more open and
inclusive.
Throughout his training, Tyreek found ways to incorporate work-based learning, from working on construction sites to learning the ins and outs of using tools, such as chainsaws and forklifts, to serving as a dorm leader where he repaired beds, tiled bathrooms and helped with day-to-day
“Job Corps helped me open up and become a leader instead of sitting back and letting others do things for me. I was always a helper; but at Job Corps, I learned how to help myself.”
Now Tyreek has a career as a tile worker for Rosa Mosaic & Tile Company. He mainly works with terrazzo, leveling floors, grouting, mixing and cleaning. For his career moving forward, Tyreek plans to become a mechanic.
“Still to this day, I am a helper. As a tile worker, I help my team and answer to the boss. I am working toward becoming a mechanic because, on a team like mine, they are the leader and the person others look to for guidance. With the confidence and experiences I gained from Job Corps, I know I am ready to lead.”
His advice for new students?
- Pack light. Only pack clothes and things you need.
- Find a comfortable space and community on campus.
- Learn to clean. Whether or not you’re working in tile setting, learning to clean and clean well will take you far.
- Build relationships with instructors because they could be the key to your landing a great job. They treated us like family, from bringing us food to helping us find jobs. Be kind, and they will do the world for you.
Graduated from Job Corps in: August 2021 Employer: Rosa Mosaic & Tile Company Hometown: New York City Phone: 646-207-4032 Email: tygiagod@gmail.com Submitted by: Lydia Henry Notes:
Salary: $16/hour
Source: center newsletter