Arielle Kirton, a student at SIATech Inland Empire, admits that her life was filled with fighting, smoking, drinking, and running away from home prior to coming to Job Corps. She rarely attended school; and when she did, it was just to hang out and get into more trouble. She had no respect for teachers or staff at all. Some of the lowest points of her life were a stint in Juvenile Hall and a fight that seriously injured another student by throwing her arm through a window.

Since coming to the Job Corps and the SIATech High School program, she has realized a complete turnaround in attitude and actions. She doesn’t know exactly when it happened, but she concluded that her life was not going anywhere because she still had the same behaviors as before.

As one of ten children and living in a single-parent home, Aisha Abdullah spent much of her time caring for her ever-growing family.  With young brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews that needed care, there were many school days missed and homework assignments left unfinished.  With so much on her plate, her first year of high school was marked by poor attendance, poor grades, and a poor attitude. Her older sisters provided no guidance, as they all had babies before they finished high school. Her retreat from family responsibilities was to run the streets.

Aisha’s turnaround came when she meandered into EducationWorks (EW) Beacon Center located in the Audenried High School, where she met staff member Bianca White.  Bianca saw a young woman headed for trouble. Her first move was to encourage Aisha to attend school every day. Aisha returned to the Beacon Center as often as she was able. The Aisha-Bianca dynamic clicked: “Bianca was my mentor; she was the older sister I was looking for.” With Bianca’s and the Beacon Center staff’s help and guidance, her school attendance dramatically improved. She joined the Audenried Beacon Center Youth Council and was elected its president. In that role she discovered that she was a natural leader and had the genuine desire to serve her community.

“This program is for you. If you take advantage of it, you will improve a whole lot.  I have taken advantage of this program, and I am so proud of myself and what I have accomplished here at SIATech.”

Ambria Allen was identified as a special needs student early in elementary school and had always struggled academically and disliked school.  Ambria went to a traditional high school through the tenth grade and then eventually transitioned to an adult school because of her age; however, her school struggles continued.  Her Godsister recommended Job Corps, and Ambria willingly looked into the program.  Ambria began at Job Corps/SIATech in July, 2006, with apprehension.  She recognized that her reading skills were very low, which was a main factor why she never completed any school program.