“In 8th grade, I had to drop out of school to take care of my grandmother and great-grandmother. At 18, I knew it was my time to get out of this cycle and let education lead the way. My advice is to be consistent. Attend class. Envision yourself holding that diploma. Because when you obtain it, a sense of accomplishment will rush over you.”

“In high school, I took four years of construction classes and became an advocate for CTE. I ended up declining an offer to attend a Top 100 university in another state so I could study construction at Seminole State College while also working full-time to build schools in my community. To any young woman entering the industry, I would say: Everyone around you is willing to help you learn, and there are as many opportunities for us to grow as there are for men.”

“I was 31, doing mediocre work. What inspired me to go back was my son, Noah. Now that I know better, I would definitely encourage someone to pursue either a certificate class or a two-year degree. You don’t necessarily have to start in a four-year program to get the same skills, knowledge and salary to work in a STEM career.”

“I longed to use my skills but could work only physical jobs because of my English. At ALCO, I practiced English daily and intensely. One day, my career counselor told me about a job opportunity as a contract processor at a major hotel chain. I was nervous about the interview, but I was prepared. I was hired and now work in a professional setting with full benefits and growth opportunities.”

“Working in a warehouse was a job. I feel like a job is for somebody coming straight out of high school. A career is your life. I wanted to change my life. I wanted my two children to see better for me. With my diploma and my training, I see my future, and I see everything coming toward me. This is really it now.”

“I want to be a firefighter for the same reason why I joined the military: I had a calling to serve, and I wanted to be hands-on and active physically. Now, you can go to school for a lot shorter duration, get really trained up in high-quality skills, then use that in a really awesome career and help a lot of people in your community.”

“When I became a quadriplegic after a car accident, my biggest sources of hope were my therapists. When they got me up and walking for the first time, I bawled my eyes out. Thanks to the occupational therapy program at Polk, I am now using my experience to help and teach others. My advice is, take advantage of every opportunity that you have to grow.”

“I’ve gotten three certifications – the safety certification, the steering suspension and electrical. Doing this in high school is a benefit because I don’t have to pay for classes until I get to technical school. I enjoy the hands-on work. And my instructor is always encouraging and makes the class enjoyable. Everything that he does, I just pick up so quickly.”

“The opportunity to stack my certifications catapulted my career and helped me build the confidence needed to excel in an industry like information technology.”

“This program has given me opportunities that I never would have dreamed of. When I came into this program, I thought in a year’s time, I’d be a surgical tech – but in the five years since, I have not only excelled in my career but have come back to the same school to be a co-instructor and clinical coordinator.”