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Crossing the Job Corps Bridge to Success |
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 School was not always a priority for Michelle Picos, a seventeen year old SIATech High School graduate. With family obligations and mounting financial troubles, she found herself caring for relatives instead of attending school. Then Michelle heard about Job Corps through an older cousin. He had attended Job Corps and the SIATech high school program and encouraged Michelle to come to Job Corps to better her life.
During this time, Michelle had no where to stay because her mother was getting her life together in a Sober Living Home. The decision to come to Job Corps could not have happened at a better time for Michelle. She knew that she wanted to get her high school diploma because she was only 16 and knew the value that the diploma held.
“…teachers were always available to give me the support
and encouragement that I needed.”Michelle arrived at the Job Corps/SIATech programs after not being in a school environment for approximately two years. When asked how SIATech made a difference for her, she said, “I was able to move at my own pace. I didn’t have to wait for help, because teachers were always available to give me the support and encouragement that I needed. If it wasn’t for Ms. Sara, I would have never completed math!” After Michelle had been held back in traditional schools, experienced many academic frustrations, and had dropped out of the public school system, she eventually persevered with SIATech and became the first child in her family to earn her high school diploma. Michelle has also completed her trade in computer technology and is currently working on her second trade in Plastering. |
