Emilie Konan arrived on campus at Blue Ridge Job Corps with her sister in tow and zero English between the two of them. She was nervous—about the language barrier, the new environment and her new course of study. But she was excited too, and with her sister by her side at Job Corps, she set […]
Virginia
Candice Baylor
After a semester at a university that wasn’t the right fit, Candice Baylor wasn’t sure what to do next. Her sister Angelica helped her find the answer: Job Corps. Angelica was away from home in Marion, Va., attending the Blue Ridge Job Corps Center. She spoke highly of the program and her experiences and encouraged […]
Brianna Clark
Brianna Clark went from crafting sandwiches to a career in construction, all thanks to Job Corps. She was working at Subway in her hometown of Coeburn, Va., when a staff member from Flatwoods Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center came in for lunch. The staff member chatted with Brianna and learned she was interested in finding […]
Tyler Harris
“Hey, Mr. Castle, I want to say how Flatwoods changed my life …” Before Job Corps, Tyler Harris was getting into a lot of trouble. He graduated from high school but found himself making the wrong decisions. “I’ve always been a hard worker, and I love working with my hands. I had no idea about […]
Adrianna Lejeune
Adrianna LeJeune grew up in a small town in Louisiana before moving to Fairfax, Va. Growing up, she was a bright student and always enjoyed learning. Due to difficult circumstances, Adrianna did not finish high school and experienced homelessness throughout her young life. Fortunately, she learned about Job Corps just in time. Her mother-in-law knew […]
Shante Jones
“Staying focused is key to reaching your goals,” said Shante Jones. “If you stay focused and remember why you started, Job Corps will help you create a better future.” Becoming a mother at 14 resulted in a lot of hardships for Shante. She dropped out of high school but hoped to eventually earn her diploma, […]
Alex Crowley
Originally from Russia, Alex Crowley, was adopted at 7 years old and moved to Richmond, Va., with his new family. Alex got into trouble frequently growing up and was in and out of juvenile detention. He eventually dropped out of school in 10th grade, and began to work framing houses. His mother found out about […]
Tayler Goins
Tayler Goins grew up in Colonial Heights, Va., as the eldest of four siblings. After graduating from high school, she decided to work as a cashier at Food Lion and CVS instead of pursuing higher education. “I was being irresponsible, and the time came that I had to make a choice to better my life—that […]
Rebecca Badasu
Rebecca Badasu moved from Ghana to the United States with her family as a young adult. She got a job making $7.25 per hour, which was barely enough to pay her bills, and she needed to find a way to become financially independent. Taking her father’s advice, Rebecca left home to pursue her education at […]
Taiesha Michael
When Taiesha Michael dropped out of high school and wasn’t able to find a job, she realized she needed career training and decided to enroll at Job Corps. Taiesha arrived at the Blue Ridge Job Corps Center determined to succeed. She earned her high school diploma, completed both the Clinical Medical Assistant and Medical Office […]