Adam F., 24, from Beaver County came to the Pittsburgh Job Corps on Jan. 25, 2010.  His purpose was to earn his GED and do something in the nursing field.  When Adam was 16 it was necessary for him to drop out of high school.  His father had died and Adam was designated the “man of the house”.  He started working full time and was taking cyber classes.  He fell behind but promised his mother that he would get a GED.  True to his promise, once Adam was laid off from his restaurant management position where he worked 70 hours a week, and while watching TV, he saw the commercial for Job Corps.  He immediately went to his computer and requested information.  He wanted to better himself and needed something different in his life.  

The Pittsburgh Job Corps Center had a Certified Nursing  Assistant program  and that grabbed his attention.  This meant leaving his home and becoming a resident on center.  Living in a dorm with bunk beds, having three roommates, and leaving his car at home was a life change for him.  He decided to make the best of it and became a dorm leader as well as a volunteer for orientation.  He tells other trainees that Job Corps is what you make of it.  Take out the drama and come for the right reasons- to better yourself and to work on skills to get a good job and keep it.

In Adam’s CNA program he had every other week in academics.  When he was done with his work he volunteered as an education aide, took the initiative to help the Resident Assistants, and asked to be a relief receptionist.  He handled it all well and professionally.

Adam’s ambition is to continue his education and become an RN.  For now, when the call went out for a daytime clerk position in our own Wellness center, Adam was the favored candidate.  He also has a job at Liken Medical Staffing as a CNA for a few nights a week and weekends.  After work hours and in his spare time  he enjoys bike riding, computers and bowling.