Ahmed Alston felt intense pressure to take care of his family and continue putting his future on hold. He couldn’t finish high school, then tried attending Job Corps at 17 years old; but he couldn’t stick with it. Ahmed felt washed out and wasn’t ready for the program. He felt embarrassed around his high school […]
West Virginia
Richard Johnson
In just a few short years, Richard Johnson went from being new to the United States to working for the federal government—and Job Corps is the secret to his success. Richard was born in Liberia on the west coast of Africa; but when he was a young adult, his family chose to immigrate to the […]
Julian Gray-Ferrer
Julian Gray-Ferrer had a major goal for his future—to start and operate his own heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) company. He knew Job Corps would help him gain the technical skills needed to reach his goal. What Julian wasn’t expecting was that he would acquire interpersonal skills that would become just as important. […]
Julian Roth
Julian Roth attended Job Corps with the intention of only completing his Computer Technician training in the Information Technology program. Little did he know, Harpers Ferry Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center would provide him an opportunity to join the fire program. The fire program was a work-based learning experience where Julian was introduced to the […]
Maricela Perez
When Maricela Perez graduated from high school in 2014, she planned on continuing her education and studying dentistry at a university in Pennsylvania. However, she wasn’t sure she was ready for college, so instead her parents brought up the idea of Job Corps. Maricela entered Job Corps determined to become a dental assistant. Two years […]
James Jackson
Growing up in West Virginia, James Jackson never really put much thought into what he would be doing in the future. He never felt that he had many options for career paths, which resulted in his working multiple low-paying jobs with no real possibility for growth for most of his younger years. Then, at his […]
Tim Sever
Before he enrolled in the Harpers Ferry Job Corps Center in Harpers Ferry, W.Va., 22-year-old Tim Sever says that he lacked purpose. Not anymore. Now, Tim works as an expanded dispatch recorder and initial attack dispatcher trainee in the Monongahela National Forest Fire Dispatch Center, earning $26.40 an hour. Tim’s mother encouraged him to make […]
Amber Sanders
Amber Sanders moved to Dunbar, W.Va., after completing high school in Florida. She wasn’t ready for college, so she got a job as a cashier. She wanted hands-on training for a career, and Job Corps was the perfect fit. She enrolled at the Charleston Job Corps Center in January 2018. While at Job Corps, Amber […]