Neil Nelson graduating Northlands Job Corps Center

The Northlands Job Corps Center, located in Vergennes, VT, is pleased to announce the graduation of Neil Nelson, on July 31, 2020, from the Automotive Light Maintenance and Repair program.  Since starting the program in the Winter of 2019, Neil has been a rising star.  His achievements include certificates in AC Delco and Safety and Pollution, a driver’s license, and employability skills.  He also earned Overall Student of the month for both Education and Trade accomplishments.  Through our hands-on training program, Neil worked for an auto shop, The Twisted Wrench, in the Burlington area and was offered a full-time position with them. Neil has graduated with high honors and 90% of his exit pay. Congratulations Neil!

In My Own Words: Neil’s Job Corps Story

Many people come to Job Corps for various reasons. Whether it’s to get a better education, learn a new skill, or because their parents wanted them to go. Some of us however aren’t as fortunate. I was at a moment where I was in between jobs and the bills started to pile up. My girlfriend Vikki and I were practically on the verge of being homeless. I was lucky my sister in law heard my situation and recommended Job Corp. I asked my father to loan me some money to keep the bills back While I finished Job Corps. So began my experience at the Northlands Job Corps Center.

Job Corps offers a wide variety of trades to choose from, whether its Welding, or Culinary Arts, Office Administration, or more. But the one I had decided to do was Automotive Technologies. Personally I had just picked it because I only wanted to not pay $500+ for a simple tire change. I figured that I would be able to just fly through the course and I could start my life back up. My first few months at Job Corps felt like I was just pushing off the inevitable, bills were still due, I felt like I lost a lot of freedoms. However, life has a funny way of operating. Having learned more about Auto Tech I found that I enjoyed it enough so that I felt like I actually could make a living out of doing it. I had made friends that I still keep in touch with even after they have graduated.

All good things must come to an end. However that doesn’t mean that what starts after is going to be bad. A new good time could come to flourish. After I leave Job Corps I will be having a job in the auto business. Though I won’t have enough money right away, later on I plan on buying my own plot of land where I can build my own house instead of just renting apartments for my life. By that point, hopefully I might even be able to open my own auto shop. Many people don’t know what they will do the next day but thanks to Job Corps and the opportunities there I have a better understanding of most obstacles I’m expected to run into. However I will burn that bridge when I cross it.