Julian

When Julian joined our Career Pathways program and asked for assistance in getting a job, she had just one requirement: her employer needed to be able to work around her literacy class schedule. Julian had been taking basic literacy classes on and off for several years, and she was finally at a place where she was ready to fully commit. “I don’t want to stop going to class. The class is more important to me right now than even a job.”

“When I first came here, it was really embarrassing. I started off knowing nothing. I barely could say the ABCs. I became more confident during the pandemic. At the time I wasn’t working, so I had more time to put towards my education.”

She was feeling more motivated to make a real change, began noticing and tracking her own progress, and she was not going to give that up. Gaining employment was a part of her long-term plan for self-improvement, but it would not replace her efforts to improve her reading and writing skills. “Even when I was offered a job, I saw the hours and I had to say no. I would have to put school aside, again, and that was not the plan for me. School was still my priority.”

Julian did still dedicate a great deal of time and effort to find a job that would work for her, and the wait paid off. She is now working as a cleaner at a nearby hospital. She works in the NICU unit, and takes great pride in making sure families feel comfortable during their stay. “It feels really good to get back in the workforce. Regardless of if the work is hard- and sometimes it’s really hard- the good days make up for the bad days. It’s a really good feeling to be a part of the team there.”

With a full schedule of classes at LVGH and her new job, Julian is becoming a stronger English speaker every day. “I’ve improved so much. A really big improvement. It’s great to be with my classmates and see how determined we are. We’re all here for our own reasons, and we’re all determined to reach our goal.”

“A lot of people at Literacy Volunteers have confidence in me, so I need to be confident in myself,” Julian shares. “I need it. If I don’t come here, I feel like part of me is not fulfilled. There is no looking back.”

To hear Julian share her story, please click here.