Student Success Story: LeAnn
Finding your calling through JOG!
Taking the first step toward success can sometimes look differently than you expect. Whether it’s starting a new job, trying a new hobby, or even cooking a new recipe, the journey is unique for everyone. For LeAnn, joining Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates (JOG) was originally a way to spend time with friends—but it turned into a life-changing experience!
After visiting her school’s JOG class with some of her friends that were already enrolled, LeAnn was immediately interested. She got to work right away with her Career Specialist, Heidi, and discussed what LeAnn wanted to take away from her time in JOG. She explained that she wasn’t able to get a traditional job because she needed to take care of her siblings due to issues with her mother. She had to ensure that she was feeding them, helping them get their homework done, and making sure they went to bed at a decent time. LeAnn felt like she was parenting instead of living her own life as she was never allowed to participate in normal teenage things.
Heidi and Leia’s first goal was to get LeAnn into the Summer Youth Employment Program to start gaining work readiness skills and experience. She worked with Heidi and her job placement employer to coordinate around her mom’s work schedule, so there were no conflicts. LeAnn was then able to have the independence to figure out what she wanted to do in her future. and decided that she wanted to commit to serving her country as a member of the Navy! When discussing LeAnn’s journey, Heidi expressed, “It seems LeAnn will finally get out of the limits of her home and town and live a life she gets to build herself.”
We are very proud of the leaps that LeAnn has been able to make in her time with JOG! LeAnn is a great example of how applying yourself in the JOG program can help you overcome obstacles and pave your own way to success!
