The 21-year-old attended WJCC for one year, in which time she earned her GED, completed training in business, earned her driver’s license, served as student government president, and participated in numerous student groups.

"I’m very proud of myself and so is my mom. Job Corps really has changed my life," said Tanya.

Kieran studied Computer Aided Design (CAD) while at CJCC, and began working for Robohand under a work-experience arrangement last February. He gained valuable experience using Auto-Cad 14 to design fixtures for Computer Numeric Control setups.

Yolanda M., who graduated CJCC in June, 1997, is enjoying her job as maintenance mechanic at the West Rock Nursing Center in New Haven, Connecticut, where she is earning $8 per hour.

Yolanda earned her full-time job after completing a work experience arrangement with West Rock while training in the Building and Apartment Maintenance trade at CJCC.

She loved living on Cape Cod, close to her family, but dreaded working in a tourist area where service jobs were the main option for employment.

"College was my goal," but it was financially out of reach, said Emily.

"To pack and move, and try to save money to start all over again was just impossible," she recalled.

So in March of 1996, Emily enrolled in Job Corps. Already equiped with her GED before arriving on campus, Emily chose to train in accounting at the Westover Job Corps campus (WJCC) in Chicopee, MA.

The Hyannis native finished her trade at WJCC in five months, and had already met with staff to discuss her dream of attending college. She received WJCC’s assistance in completing her paperwork and financial aid applications and was accepted into Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) as a Liberal Arts major.

While studying at STICC for her Associates Degree, she researched possible careers she would enjoy. Due to physical problems, she veered away from her first love - archeology, and directed her attention towards her other interest - politics.

Last May, Emily marched down the aisle at STICC’s graduation to accept her Associates Degree and carry the flag for Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society.

The Job Corps student did so well at STICC, she finished with a 3.91 cumulative average.

This Fall she travels to Washington, D.C. to earn her bachelor of arts degree in International Relations at American University.

"My mother is extremely proud of me...I’m the first in my family to go to college," said Emily.

She speaks highly of Job Corps, the opportunities it afforded her, and all that she learned through her experiences there.

"I’ve changed very dramatically over the past two years. I’m more self-reliant," she said.

Emily admits Job Corps was not easy for her when she first arrived, because she had to adjust to abiding by certain rules, but she says it helped her learn to work within a system.

Emily's advice to other youth who are looking for a way to improve their lives is straightforward. "Job Corps is a way to change your life around. Look at me. I’m off to American University in Washington, D.C. I never would have dreamed of living in Washington. And that all happened because of Job Corps. I never would’ve been able to complete all my studies while working and living on my own," said Emily.

Her career goal is to work in her field of study either for the United Nations, CIA, Peace Corps, State Department, or the Diplomatic Corps. Emily says she also plans to earn her Master’s Degree and eventually her PhD.