“My Name is Christian Dickinson. I am 24 years old and from Detroit, Michigan. I enrolled at the Gerald R. Ford Job Corps Center on October 25th, 2011.

Before I came to Job Corps, my brother and I were home schooled by our parents. Things were fine until my father passed away when I was thirteen and my mothers’ drug use got out of hand. My brother and I started working to help our mother with things around the house and as a result my education fell to the wayside.

We struggled as the years went by. We lost our home and had to move in with my uncle. With time, my mother went to rehab to get clean and our lives became much better. We recommitted our lives to God and we were headed on the right path. I had a job, but I knew that I still needed to finish my education.
My cousin had enrolled at the Gerald R. Ford Job Corps Center and was having great success in the program. I knew that I needed to attend Job Corps as well. I applied in April of 2011 and soon left home for the first time in hopes to better myself and my future.

I enrolled in Job Corps to earn my GED and to complete the Culinary Arts trade. But once I arrived on-center, the Office Administration trade took me by surprise. I was never one for the suit and tie look but the trade was interesting and exciting. Becoming certified in Office Administration was easy, but I struggled to catch up with my academics. I pushed through and passed four out of my five GED tests, and next week I will be completing the fifth test and finally earning my GED.

While at Job Corps, I have learned that it’s not about how many times we fall, it’s about if we get up. In the year that I have been here, I have had great opportunities and accomplishments. I am Dorm President of the Fourth Floor and Vice President of the Student Government Association. I currently hold a Gold Card and will be receiving my Platinum card next month. I completed a paid internship at Vi-Chem and was given the opportunity to job shadow in Congressman Justin Amash’s District Office. I also won the Center Director Student of the Month Award, completed the Office Administration Trade and will be attending Grand Rapids Community College starting in May.

I have come a long way from the first time I left Detroit over a year ago. Job Corps gave me the opportunity to better myself, but I only made it this far because of the people who work here and encourage me everyday. I would like to thank Mr. Wirick for teaching me that “its not just business, its life”; Ms. Rucker for always being there when I needed to talk; Ms. Cornett, who was my first real connection to a staff member here on center; to Mr. Raybon for never letting me give up on myself; and to Ms. May, who is like a mother to me here on center.

Lastly, I would like to thank my mother, Johnnie Mae Dickinson. Even when she was down and out, she always told me that I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. And because of God, and the people he put in my life, I am now a Job Corps success story.”

Christian Dickinson
Gerald R. Ford Job Corps Center Student