AGE: 22
POSITION: Pharmacy technician
EMPLOYER: Walgreens
Aileen had worked as a server and a cashier, but her real dream was to work in the medical field. Taking her fate into her own hands, Aileen took the courageous first step of contacting Youth Job Center and signing up as a client.
Aileen started in workforce readiness training, where she got a thorough and friendly crash course in resume-writing, interviewing, networking, and other foundational job-search skills. Next, she moved into the healthcare career pathway program, where she worked one-on-one with her career coach to set goals and move confidently toward them.
Success came quickly in the form of a paid work experience (PWE) at a local Walgreens, where Aileen interned as a pharmacy technician. Not only did Aileen enjoy the experience—she excelled, earning a permanent position upon the end of her PWE term. Now, while she serves the community at Walgreens, Aileen is also taking Pharmacy Technician Certification Board-recognized classes to grow in her role and deepen her professional knowledge.
With Aileen’s determination and strong sense of priorities, we have every confidence that Aileen’s professional path will continue to be a bright one.
In her own words…
Before YJC, I was a young mom feeling stuck and like I had no idea where to even pick up, but I knew I had to do better. I had a point to prove and that was to see how much more I could do for myself, my son, and our future. Just recently receiving my high school diploma, three years after dropping out, I was determined to start immediately. With nothing but a Google search to advise me, I stumbled upon YJC and filled in my info thinking I’d be receiving spam mail instead of any help because of every other site I had tried.
Within a week, I was able to join an informative session explaining the services I could receive. In shock that I could even actually get this help, I had a one-on-one conversation with someone from YJC and got instant responses and even was paired with a career advisor.
About two months in, I was an intern at a pharmacy as well as being enrolled in a phlebotomy course. With the support of my career advisor and YJC, I received one-on-one tutoring, mentoring, assistance with school supplies including my very own laptop, gas gift cards to help me get from school to work, and just overall the encouragement and extra push I didn’t know I needed.
Forward to present day: I am a part-time employee at the pharmacy I was interning for, a certified phlebotomist, and in the process of becoming a medical assistant. I am truly so thankful for YJC and am so blessed to have been introduced to this amazing organization and opportunity I had no idea was even available to me.
