Success Stories
Haylie: Striving for the Stable Life
Stricken by the wicked problem of needing to attend school but having no transportation or assistance at home, things were looking grim for high-schooler Haylie. She realized that soon, her grades would plummet into an unrecoverable state, and graduation appeared further and further away. Not to mention, potential legal issues could’ve arisen from not attending school. In sum, dropout with no recovery seemed imminent.
As Haylie’s hopes dwindled, she learned about the Region 2 Youth (16-24) Program from her counselors at Wayne High School, and they told her that a service they offer is dropout recovery. Exerting her last morsel of hope, she reached out to Career Planner Jakki Jackson, and the rest is history.
Not only is Haylie now working on her Penn Foster High School diploma at her own pace, but she also entered a work contract with the Region 2 WIB part-time making $12 an hour. As Haylie discussed her journey with the Region 2 WIB, she stated that she views her time in the Youth Program as a second chance to regain a foothold in life, and finally obtain a “stable living [situation].”
Keli: Truck-Driving, Trailblazing Mother
Keli is a 24-year-old mother who, when faced with the dilemma of providing financial security for her family, did the only sensible thing she could do: she got the show on the road and put the pedal to the metal—literally.
Recently graduating from 160 Driving Academy as a certified truck driver after linking up with the Region 2 Youth Program, Keli is now making a solid, steady figure, and she no longer worries about her son receiving his necessities and can alleviate pressure off her partner.
At first, Keli felt intimidated by a male-dominated industry; the all-too-common instance of a man looking down on a woman and her abilities can rear its ugly head anywhere in a non-traditional job. But, determined not to let her son, partner, or herself down, she pressed on—full steam ahead.
It wasn’t easy, she tells us, but was it worth it?
Absolutely. Keli wishes for her story to inspire others who are unsure or afraid of pursuing a non-traditional job, and in her own words, “If you think you can’t do it, put it out of your mind. Take it day by day. You will be able to do it.”
Tyler: Figuring it Out
Not knowing what you want to do in life is a problem just about anyone can relate to, and it’s a fair one. That issue is precisely what Tyler Robinette came to the Youth Program with; he wanted to do something but wasn’t sure what. So, after the Youth Program assisted Tyler in career exploration and strengths/interest assessments, Tyler decided that he would enroll at the Cabell County Career Center to learn to weld, and he is currently working toward his certification.
However, while training pays dividends down the road, there was still the matter of paying rent and bills in the short term. Fortunately, the timing worked out well since the City of Huntington needed an office assistant, and so, Tyler is presently on a work contract with the City working part-time. At the same time, he earns his welding certification at night. He still has a while to go till he achieves his dreams, but he’s taken the first step—the hardest part—and is figuring it out, day-by-day.
Autumn: Exceeding Expectations
In the Fall of 2021, Autumn approached the Region 2 Youth Program and expressed her desire to attend Med-Care Training Center and become a fully licensed practicing nurse. She utilized her ITA funds for their LPN course, enabling her to attend with minimal tuition/equipment fees to pay out-of-pocket. As if that weren’t enough in itself, Autumn also took full advantage of her studies and excelled to the top of her class, graduating as the 2021-2022 LPN Class President.
Then, without missing a beat, Autumn obtained a solid, steady job at Tug Valley ARH, where she finally works her dream job and provides for her family. While there were undoubtedly discouraging and difficult moments, she overcame every obstacle thrown her way and did so with flying colors.
Aiden and Caden: (T)Winning
Aiden and Caden are twins in the Region 2 Youth Program who take full advantage of the Region 2 Youth Program’s Work Experience Contracts. Though they also both work for our friends at McCoy Station in downtown Logan, WV, their jobs are vastly different. Aiden works in hospitality and does much of the initial greeting-in and seating of patrons to the restaurant, while also facilitating communication between all the staff. Caden, on the other hand, works on the carpentry needed for the building, such as cutting timber, setting piping, and general construction.
While they are gaining valuable skills on their work contracts, they both are hard at work with their certifications such as OSHA-10, Customer Service, and Food Handlers/Allergens. By the time their work contracts are completed and all their certifications are attained, their resumes will be solid. Both Aiden and
Caden plan to attend BCTC to earn their CDLs during the next rotation, too.
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