Student Success Story: Sam
Sam’s Journey: A Path of Exploration and Growth with Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates
The future is full of endless possibilities. Sometimes, pursuing one of those possibilities leads to unexpected opportunities, bringing you closer to your true passion. This is exactly what happened for Sam, who experienced a transformative journey through her work with Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG).
Sam joined the JOG program in pursuit of more opportunities for both her education and career. She didn’t know what she wanted to do in the future, but she knew that, after meeting her Career Specialist, Ms. Nicola would be a great advocate for Sam to get there. Sam began her JOG work experience in a placement at the library while she did some babysitting on the side, as well. During her time at the library, she grew a closer friendship with the woman she babysat for, Anna. This led to an exciting new opportunity: working for Anna at Ultimate Flooring, a job placement Sam secured with the help of Ms. Nicola. Sam expressed her happiness for her position at Ultimate Flooring, saying, “If it wasn’t for JOG, I wouldn’t have ended up working at the store and finding something that I want to possibly do forever.”
One opportunity that Sam has had since starting this position is writing an article for Women of the Flooring Business on what she has learned working in the industry and the importance of empowering women to enter a male-dominated field like flooring. In the article, Sam continued by expressing the versatility of the industry, saying, “From interior design to sales and manufacturing, there really is something for everyone in flooring.” She also expanded upon how her involvement in JOG, sharing how JOG brought her to this point through workplace skill training and placement options she otherwise may have never found.
While excelling in her role at Ultimate Flooring, Sam is also pursuing an ambitious academic goal: earning an associate’s degree in animal science through Ohio State University-Ashland’s College Credit Plus program. Her passion for animal care, particularly for farm animals, has been fueled by the chickens she currently raises. Sam plans to turn this passion into a personal pursuit by starting her own farm when she’s able to settle into a place of her own.
Sam’s story is one of growth, determination, and adaptability. She was able to assess her placement at the library, take what she learned there and in the JOG classroom, and apply that knowledge directly toward building her own career path! This experience has incorporated the life skills she has learned, like professional communication, and has helped her build a plan for career advancement to become a leader at Ultimate Flooring. Her story is a shining example of how, with the right support, every opportunity can lead to greater success and self-discovery!
