Danielle Peterson
AMTRAK
Train Attendant
$19.20/hr
Potomac JCC Advanced Training Graduate
Keystone JCC transfer (Office Administration previous trade)

“I have learned a lot about responsibility while living on my own and time management. In TCU/IAM you’re told “when you’re early you’re on time and when you are on time, you’re late” that is really true. I am the first one at work and I am the first to clock in. All of my trainings and supervisors noticed that I am the first on the clock and they tell me that if everyone did what I did we’d be leaving early on the train. I know I am leaving a positive impression on my managers and my coworkers around me.”- Danielle

Centers: Philadelphia Job Corps Center
Keystone Job Corps Center
Advanced Training – Potomac Job Corps Center

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA (North Philly)

Career Areas: Philadelphia – Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Keystone – Office Administration
Potomac – Advanced Training (Transportation Communications Union)

Graduated: In Philadelphia I went through a hard time due to housing issues, so the Job Corps in Philly helped me transfer.
Keystone – 2016
Potomac – 2017

Employer: Amtrak (On-Board Service Attendant)

I am 23 years old, with two beautiful boys (5 and 7). I was basically homeless in 2016 when I decided to enroll in Job Corps, I had just quit going to Lincoln Technical Institute for Medical Assistant because my children were in two different daycare centers. I was always late for school and during school my mind would start to drift elsewhere. I had two more months before I could have graduated and I chose to quit. I became overwhelmed and decided to give my kids a better chance with someone who could provide a better life for them. My world was over because I felt defeated.

My best friend at the time was going to the Philadelphia Job Corps and she told me about the program. I decided to sign up for the program and I was accepted. A few weeks later, my instructor did not come back so my EMT class did not have a teacher. I told a counselor my living situation and started to see a shift like a change was being made. I was transferred to Keystone almost immediately; they bought the ticket and everything! I breezed through Office Administration within 6 months. I got my driver’s license, and so much knowledge.

TCU was not an easy trade to get into. It was very demanding and the instructors wanted the best for you. You could choose between studying specialty coursework for Airline, Railroad, or other transportation work or you could take study multiply transportation courses. I chose the railroad, only because I was scared of heights, and my dad made me love trains at a young age. In TCU, I gained math skills, typing skills, independence, and confidence. Ms. Witchoski knew part of my story due to the phone interview we had. I lost everything when I first got to the campus, all my clothes, my paperwork; everything except two boxes of clothes. I had hardship after hardship, but Ms. Witchoski, Ms. Marable and Ms. Deloatch never let me give up. When I graduated Job Corps I left on Friday April 29, 2017, I moved into my apartment that weekend, and started training classes for the Amtrak (On-Board Service Attendant position) Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL – Auto Train.

Job Corps program in general, changed my life. I am on the road to fight for custody of my children, I am moving into a bigger place this year April 2018, and I am waiting on a response for a location in Delaware. I recommend this program to everybody that is young and going through a rough time, especially mothers. Thank you for letting me share my story.

Signed,

Danielle Peterson