Jesus Fabian came to Long Beach Job Corps in February 2009. In his previous school career, he was expelled from his school. He knew at that point that something needed to change in his life. He applied to high schools nearby his home, but they did not accept him because of his previous choices. After a few weeks, a friend told Jesus about Job Corps, and he applied to the program.

He was accepted into Job Corps a few weeks later. Right there and then he made goals for his new life. He knew he did not have many more chances after his past decisions, so he set goals to complete his trade and graduate high school at Long Beach Job Corps/SIATech.

Brian Madden is a student who works very hard everyday in class. He is a student that is reliable, hardworking, and who is on track to complete and graduate from the high school program at SIATech High School, Long Beach. Brian is a student who is an ideal student. He is an ideal student because he is a student who respects himself, his peers, and his mentors. He is a student who can be trusted, a student who will help his peers, and a student who gives it one hundred percent everyday. He attributes his determination to his family; his grandmother in particular. 

Growing up, Brian Madden did not have it so easy. His life took a twist for the worst when his mother was sent to prison. He described it as a time where everything became confusing in his life. This event did not only hurt him, but it had a life-changing experience for his siblings and him. He was sent to a foster home. It was not too long before his grandmother took them into her custody away from the foster home system. Brian Madden described it as a time where his siblings and he felt a sigh of relief. But it was not long before they were back in the foster home system for many reasons. Life felt as if it was a rollercoaster to Brian; he felt his life was taking a turn in the wrong way. He felt lost, confused, and scared, so Brian began to hang out with a crowd that was not so positive.

It is great when students inspire staff and students around them. This month, one of those students is Lashanda Kent. Lashanda began SIATech High School a few months ago. Lashanda was a hard worker then, but it was not so easy to work with her. She was hard to communicate with because of her bad attitude. A few weeks later, Lashanda left on a medical leave. 

A few months later, Lashanda came back to SIATech High School in Long Beach. On her first day back, Lashanda was ready to complete her high school classes. She sat by her desk, she focused, and there was no stopping her. Today, Lashanda will become our first high school graduate of the class of February 2010. I sat with Lashanda and we talked about what inspired her motivation and her attitude change. Lashanda began to talk about her past.