Before Victoria enrolled with the ARIZONA@WORK Maricopa County Youth Services Program, she had moved back to Arizona because her father in Colorado had passed away. Once she moved back to Arizona, she was working a warehousing job, working overnights, and getting paid minimum wage. Victoria always had a dream of becoming a dental assistant but wasn’t sure how she would be able to complete schooling financially and with her current job schedule.
I enrolled Victoria into the youth program knowing that she had been enrolled before but her completion in the youth program was unsuccessful due to loss of contact with her previous career advisor. She had confided in me that her father had fallen ill and she needed to move out of state to help take care of him. After her father passed, she felt it was time to move back to Arizona and continue her journey to becoming a dental assistant. Victoria took a chance and asked to re-enroll in the ARIZONA@WORK Youth Services Program. grips
When I first met Victoria, she was very shy and soft spoken. I could tell this youth had the weight of the world on her shoulders at the young age of twenty. I knew right away that Victoria really needed someone in her corner to help her succeed and I was determined to help her succeed in any way that I could. During her eight months in the youth program, Victoria endured another loss in her family; her grandmother fell ill and was hospitalized. Afterward, she was in a very bad car accident that totaled her car and had to claim bankruptcy because of the medical and funeral bills she endured for her father. Nonetheless, Victoria persevered and continued to work overnight shifts at her job and then school in the daytime, often running off two to three hours of sleep. Even though services were offered to Victoria (i.e. transportation assistance), Victoria was determined to continue to help herself and move forward through her darkness. I made sure to check in with Victoria often and remain available if she ever needed any additional services or just needed a listening ear. Victoria successfully graduated from dental assisting school. Victoria then had resume help and guidance from me during her pursuit for a dental assistant job.
flags amp scrims Now, after Victoria’s time in the program, she interviewed for a dental assistant position with a local dental office and was offered a position on the spot with better pay and benefits. Victoria is now working in the industry of her dreams and plans to buy a new car in the future.