Life after graduating high school was hard. I was homeless for 5 months before I started to get my life together. I heard about Job Corps through a friend that completed the program in Kentucky. At first, it seemed too good to be true so I decided to attend Florida Community College in Jacksonville, FL where I took up automotive management.

Juggling 2 jobs and bills, was tough. I couldn’t manage the stress. So, I dropped out of school and started looking for other options. I met with an outreach admissions representative at the Job Corps admissions office and explained to her my goals. When I first started Job Corps, I originally wanted to be a culinary student, but my mom convinced me that my true passion was fixing things.

So, I decided to take facility maintenance at the Gainesville Job Corps Center, which had a combination of all of the hard labor trades. In the trade, I was made foreman, and delegated projects around center that consisted of plumbing, masonry, HVAC, carpentry, electrical, painting, and landscaping. I completed the FM trade and received my NCCER certification in construction and the green environment.

Next, I applied for the advanced training Solar PV and Thermal Installation program at the center and was accepted. I furthered my education and received a PV and Thermal Installation certification, plus OSHA 30. Receiving my certifications and training helped me receive the Facility Service Associate position at Lowes part time.
Since becoming an employee at Lowes, I have received a lot of recognition and awards for my work ethics.

I was the proudest when I was recognized for repairing a $9,000 zanboni floor scrubbing machine. Within 5 months of being a Lowes’ employee, I was recognized as employee of the month and was asked by my supervisor and district manager to build a sink area in our stores break room. I moved up from part time to full time within 8 months of working.

My job as a Facility Service Associate consists of repairing the inside of the building. I have to keep track of the store’s assets, write work-orders, do monthly safety inspections, and I am actively involved in Lowes’ energy and water conservation program.

I love what I do at work because it’s not the same everyday and I can manage my own time. When I am not working at Lowes, I like to volunteer my time. I am not done with school; I still have plans to attend Santa Fe College to earn a business management degree through Lowes’ tuition reimbursement program. My goal is to move up within Lowes.

I owe my success to the Job Corps Program. Job Corks works for students because it worked for me!