The Career Preparation Period graduation ceremony for the month of March focused on the enduring strength of women. Held on April 8, it honored the women on Center — students and staff — who have survived despite the odds.

The CPP staff also paid tribute to the men on Center who are surviving and taking the positive steps to change their lives.

Students Kalikah McCollum, Kiana Wilborn, Sharonda Patton, Alexis Champion and Brejion Ward spoke to the group, offering stories about their experiences while explaining what it takes to make it and how it feels to succeed.

They urged everyone to continue on their paths, to remain strong and to do whatever it takes to be successful. Quentin Sanders was the master of ceremonies, and he reminded the graduates that training at the Joliet Job Corps Center is an opportunity to prove that survival is possible and success can be achieved through hard work and persistence.