(Photos 1 & 2: Cindy rings the bell in the chapel; Photo 3: Carpentry student Dustin Mott lends a hand; Photo 4: If you could hear this photo your ears would hurt.)

Northlands Job Corps Academy Culinary student Cindy Garcia grabbed hold of the rope and pulled hard – but there was nothing. “Pull harder,” came the yell from those gathered. She reached higher on the rope and pulled again, but still nothing. Not giving up, Cindy put all her might into it, and as the rope burned into her palms the bell could be faintly heard.

“Keep going,” came the cry from the crowd. And she did, until Northlands’ Bell of Success started ringing loudly across the campus.

Cindy is the latest Northlands student to move on to advanced training to further her education. She will be going to Exeter Job Corps in Rhode Island for Advanced Culinary. “After that I hope to continue onto college,” Cindy said, “and then go back to my hometown of St. Johnsbury and work in a restaurant there. My goal is to someday operate my own business.”

She offered thanks to her instructor, Chef Chris Lavalette. “He will challenge you, but will also help you out when you need it. He’s been terrific.”

As for the Job Corps program, Cindy strongly recommends it saying the key is to “come prepared, stay focused and get it done.”

Back at the bell ringing, she asked Carpentry student Dustin Mott to lend a hand. The Bell of Success never sounded better—or louder!

Cindy offered one final piece of advice to future students who come to ring the bell.

“Bring gloves!”