Orlando Kershaw’s career has taken him from Whitney M. Young Job Corps…to Whitney M. Young Job Corps.

Kershaw graduated from the cement program in 2019.

“I heard from a friend of mine. He went to a Job Corps over in Indiana,” he said. “For a while I wasn’t too sure. Eventually, I found my way towards it and I applied.”

He didn’t regret his choice.

“I feel like I learned a lot,” he said. “You learn a lot of life skills. You learn how to interact with people and you get to meet people from all over.”

He graduated and began working in Arkansas before joining the Army. When his stint was served, he started working in security.

Then he asked his Career Transition Specialist at Whitney M. Young about opportunities in Kentucky, and heard some interesting news.

“I heard about the position and I thought back to how Job Corps helped me get my foot in the door,” Kershaw said.

So he applied and got the position.

And walking the hallowed halls once again has been surreal.

“It’s been a little weird,” he said. “But I feel like it’s a good thing. I get to be on the other side of things.”

And it gives him the chance to mentor students as they go on their own journey’s.

“Since I work here now, I have the chance to give students a different perspective since I went here as a student,” he said. “This program can open up so many doors out there. You just have to know how to use it.”