IMPACT! Rescuing a Teen’s Career Hopes

Nothing is more discouraging to a young person’s career dreams than to have that journey interrupted at a critical time. When COVID-19 put a career learning program in doubt, a local teen turned to the skills and resourcefulness she learned through the Do’Chas Teens In Action:

One of the young people in TIA was in a career learning program. The second year requires that you attend from 11:50 a.m. to 6 p.m. in order to complete the program and obtain the hours necessary for licensing. When the pandemic hit, the future of this particular career program and how students would complete their hours was up in the air. This young woman was planning to graduate from home school but didn’t have the required hours for licensing. Tapping the flexibility and resourceful thinking she learned from TIA, she worked online, studied and practiced on her family. The program’s classes eventually resumed, and she went all day every day in July. She is now preparing for her state boards. This career will provide a livable wage for her, and she can get started on her career quickly.

Creating a financially stable life means our community must provide the opportunities for people to learn, grow and take action. This is an example of how partnership can bring the chance for young people to learn the skills and strength to build a brighter future.