Kenija Calhoun
Age: 24
Hometown: Chesapeake, VA
Region: Philadelphia
Center: Blue Ridge
Dates enrolled: 7/18/2017 – 5/21/2018
Training: Clinical Medical Assistant, EKG Technician, Patient Care Technician

“Growing up was a bit of a challenge,” explained Kenija Calhoun, a Blue Ridge Job Corps graduate from Chesapeake, VA. She was in the foster care system, and she lived in multiple homes across three states. Once she was old enough to work, Kenija worked at three separate fast food restaurants simultaneously before she learned about Job Corps from her aunt, herself a Job Corps graduate. “I had seen my aunt have success as a registered nurse after going through the program, so I decided to give it a shot,” Kenija said.
In her 10 months at Blue Ridge, Kenija earned certifications in Clinical Medical Assistant, EKG Technician, and Patient Care Technician. She also spent a great deal of time volunteering both on and off center. She enjoyed assisting at the Atkins Food Pantry and as a “Big Sister” to new students who’d just arrived on center.
Kenija now works as an Environmental Technician at one of the largest hospitals in North Carolina, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. Like her aunt before her, Kenija has dreams of becoming a Registered Nurse, and she is taking steps towards making that dream a reality. In March 2022, she will begin nursing classes at Forsyth Tech. Community College.
Kenija urges current students to “BE BOLD!” in following their own dreams. “Push yourself to your limits, and do whatever it takes to be successful!”