Before coming to the United States, Meron Cash spent most of her childhood in orphanages in Ethiopia. She was the oldest of her siblings and learned early in life to be disciplined and responsible for her family. At the orphanage, Meron would help other girls with their hair, uniforms and day-to-day responsibilities. Even before she […]
Female
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, […]
Lisaira DeLuna
Lisaira DeLuna never let traditional gender roles define her. She grew up helping her dad work with trucks and racehorses, bull riding with her siblings and cousins, and wrestling on her high school team. Lisaira and her brother, Abel, didn’t finish high school but soon realized they needed to take a more serious look at […]
Michaela Hall
Michaela Hall graduated from high school and completed a semester of college. She wasn’t interested in spending so much time in college, and she quickly realized getting two jobs was not a sustainable option. It was fate when she saw a Job Corps commercial, something she didn’t really pay attention to until she needed it. […]
Briana Gosier
“I couldn’t be prouder to be a double graduate of Job Corps. I still use my Certified Nursing Assistant license to this day 15 years later.” After graduating from high school in Atlanta, Briana Gosier knew she wanted to do more than just babysit for the rest of her life. She just wasn’t sure where […]
Christine Benzon
After a few semesters in college, Christine Benzon decided to stop pursuing higher education. It was a hard choice for her because the college track was what her family expected of her, but ultimately it was not making her happy. She knew she could be destined for great things. She just had to find how […]
Tivia Dallas
Tivia Dallas dropped out of college because she could no longer afford it. But once she dropped out, she was faced with another challenge—not being able to secure a job without a degree. Tivia later became her mother’s primary caregiver after she suffered four separate strokes, and while Tivia loved caring for her mother, she […]
Alexis Hawkins
After being expelled multiple times for physical violence, Alexis was banned from attending D.C.-area public schools, and her family could not afford to send her to private school. She was only 15, yet she found herself with nowhere to go. Unsure where to turn, a friend who was in a similar situation told Alexis about […]
Sara Shores
“I was living away from home and had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. My friend and I were living in a KOA [Kampgrounds of America] until it began snowing, and we each got low-wage jobs and an apartment. I was working in a restaurant during the day and hanging clothes […]