Name: O’Neal Farrar
Age: 22
Center: Cleveland Job Corps
Region: Chicago
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Career Area: Carpentry
Dates in Job Corps: March 2015 – April 2016
Employer: Lincoln Electric
O’Neal Farrar graduated from Collinwood High School in 2013 and immediate-ly began working as a custodian at the Cleveland Browns First Energy Stadi-um. After viewing a Job Corps commercial on TV, O’Neal decided to enroll in Job Corps. In March of 2015, O’Neal began a new chapter in his life at the Cleveland Job Corps Center.

After exploring various trades, O’Neal decided that UBC Carpentry would be the best fit for him. O’Neal encountered a few obstacles in the beginning due to learning barriers; however, he was determined not to let anything stand in the way of him accomplishing his goals. He explained that he really appreciated the way the Carpentry trade students and instructors worked together, solved problems like a team and felt like a family. “At first, things were difficult, but with a little explanation and some extra help, things began to click,” expressed O’Neal. He voiced that he would always remember that his instructors helped him with anything and took extra time to work one on one with him to help him to develop valuable skills.

O’Neal’s instructors were very impressed with the determination that he had to overcome barriers and his “can do” attitude. UBC Carpentry Instructor, Daniel Volpe stated that “if every Job Corps student had the determination, drive and ambition that O’Neal had, then not a single student would leave this center without an offer letter in hand.” O’Neal said his lesson to other students is to “always be on time and always ask for more work.”