Name: Brian Gaston
Age: 24
Center: Cleveland Job Corps
Region: Chicago
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Career Area: Building Construction Technology
JC Dates: August 2015 – August 2016
After the closing of East High School on June 10, 2010, seventeen-year-old Bri-an Gaston decided to get a job as he was expecting the arrival of his daughter. After working at the local car wash for five years, Gaston had come to an im-passe. Without an education, he didn’t know what path to take. That’s when a family member told him about the Job Corps program. Motivated to provide a better life for their children Gaston and the mother of his children both decided to enroll in Job Corps.
In August 2015, Gaston arrived at the Cleveland Job Corps Center and quickly began working towards obtaining his High School Diploma. With the assistance of Reading Instructor Lynette Greene, who took him under her wing and looked after him, Gaston earned his diploma. He boasted that the mentorship and wis-dom Building Construction Technology Instructor Robert Peck provided him will give him a chance to succeed. While enrolled in the Building Construction Technology trade, he learned the fundamentals of maintenance that included skills in carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC.
Gaston recently walked across the stage at Cleveland Job Corps Center Fall 2016 Commencement Ceremony and received his diploma. Moreover, he just gained employment with the new Hilton Hotel in downtown Cleveland where he will be working in the Maintenance/Housekeeping Department. Gaston will be able to use the trade and employability skills that he learned while enrolled at Cleveland Job Corps. He hopes to use his new position as a stepping-stone and continue to move up in the company. He plans to save his money and one day start his own landscaping business. Ultimately, he is looking forward to build-ing a home and providing for his daughter, six-year-old ‘Abrianna Brown and his son, three-year-old Brian Junior.
He appreciates the assistance and time that Counselor Annette Davis provided him. Similarly, acknowledg-ing that his Mentor and Counselor Rudolph Jones will have a lasting impact on his life for teaching Gaston to stay positive and helping him remain fo-cused on his goals. He expressed that he is grateful to all the staff members at Cleveland Job Corps who touched his life. “Every Job Corps students can be successful as long as they keep their minds on the right path and stay positive,” stated Gaston. He strongly believes that hard work always pays off.
STUDENT SUCCESS