“Before coming to Operation New Hope, I had never had a job before, never worked, and had never even made a resume. I had been in and out of jail my whole life. Eventually, I went to rehab in the Space Coast at a center called STEPS, and that’s where I first heard about ONH.
I signed up for the Ready4Work program and completed it in Space Coast, Florida. Ready4Work helped me in a lot of ways, especially with my social skills. The program offers access to so many resources. After graduating, I was about to take an advanced machinery class for free because I thought I might go into that field. Even though I didn’t end up in that career, I gained useful knowledge and skills that I still use today.
One thing I really remember from the program was learning how to handle conflict and tough situations in a positive way. The staff really advocate for you. Since I had never had a job before, I didn’t think I had anything to put on a resume, but they asked me questions and showed me how to pull skills from my life experience. They helped me build a great resume.
What stood out the most to me during the three weeks of class was the tech class in the last week. I learned a lot about navigating the internet, which has helped me so much since then.”
“It showed me what to expect in a business environment, how to interact with coworkers, and how to deal with different circumstances. I got to practice those situations, and it showed me that there’s a better way to handle things than what I had learned growing up.
The staff were always supportive. Anything I was interested in or wanted to try, they made it happen. They didn’t just want me to get a job, they wanted me to pursue a career I actually cared about. Ready4Work gave me hope.”
“After graduating from the program, my whole life changed. Now, I have a full-time job, my own car, an apartment, and I’m sober and happy. I’m building something to last. I have two kids, a son and a daughter. I was an addict coming in and out of their lives while they were growing up, but when I entered transitional housing, I started seeing them on a weekly basis. I had to let go of the things that were hurting our relationship, and we’ve been working on it ever since. Now, we spend time together every week.
Today, I work in Titusville at Curative Care Center doing outreach. This September will mark one year there. The center offers STD and HIV testing, treatment, and preventative medications. I drive our mobile unit to low-income areas to offer free testing, provide resources, and help connect people to care. I facilitate appointments and advocate for my clients. I’ve really enjoyed being able to provide these services to people who might not otherwise have access.
Every few weeks, I even bring our mobile unit back to Operation New Hope. I offer testing there and get to see the staff, who really are my friends. It’s a full-circle feeling to come back, talk to the clients, and let them know that I was in their shoes not too long ago. I try to tell all of them to take the program seriously and make the most of it.
Ready4Work had a major impact on my life. It helped me take those first steps toward building something new. It helped restore my hope and made me believe in myself again.”
“To anyone who’s in a situation like I was, I’d say, “Don’t give up. Take it one step at a time. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen. The right thing will come, but it just takes time. If you’re thinking about coming to ONH, give it your all. If you really want to change your life, you will. Dress and show up as the person you want to become. Know that you can do anything you set your mind to.”
“To me, hope means believing, trusting, and having faith in what you can’t yet see. It’s knowing that things can get better.”
