Student Story: Catana

Catana was involved in the street life growing up, so she wanted to provide her daughter with a better childhood than she had had. Unfortunately, she made a decision that landed her in prison. When she was released, she was ready to change her life, but found it difficult to find a job. She went to seven different programs, but none of them could help her. She was frustrated. However, her brother was a STRIVE graduate, and when she saw how well he was doing, Catana decided to try STRIVE’s program.

“STRIVE taught me how to dress professionally, shake hands properly, build a resume, and be confident in an interview. But most importantly, STRIVE dramatically changed me as a person,” Catana explained. “I was able to let go of all the feelings that were locked inside me and keeping me from getting the job I wanted.”

Catana graduated with her construction certifications and found a job, where she was soon promoted. She is now opening her own company, has bought a car and a home, and sent her daughter to college. Because of her time with STRIVE, her life and her family’s life have changed forever.

Student Story: Erika

After a year of being unemployed, Erika decided she wanted to go back into construction, but didn’t know how to go about it. She knew she needed to take the next step somehow, and after doing research, she found STRIVE. She was very surprised to learn that STRIVE’s services are all completely free, and signed up for STRIVE’s construction cohort.

STRIVE’s free resources and training helped prepare Erika and put her on the path to her desired career. Less than one week after Erika’s last class at STRIVE, with the help of her career coach, she went on an interview with a construction company for a safety administrator position and was offered the job!

STRIVE helped Erika learn that holding back on the confidence she already has would only keep her from being her best self. Four months later Erika is thriving at her job at Monadnock Construction!

“I am so happy and grateful to STRIVE for providing me with this opportunity. Thanks to STRIVE I feel so much more confident and motivated to keep on striving,” Erika said.

STRIVE is proud to partner with Urban Strategies for their work with Monadnock Construction.

Student Story: Che

After four years in prison, Che had to make a choice: he could return to the street life, or he could try something different. He had a wife and child, Che decided he wanted to turn his life around. He wasn’t quite sure how—it was hard to readjust to life after prison and find a job—until he came to STRIVE.

STRIVE provided Che with resources, programs, and career coaches to help him stay on track to reach his goals. With STRIVE’s help, Che found a job just six months after leaving prison, as a maintenance worker with benefits. And after less than a year, he was promoted to supervisor!

Che learned that with dedication, drive, and hard work, anything is possible. This is just the first step for him on his career path.

“The transition with the help of STRIVE was like night and day,” Che says.

Student Story: Shynice

When Shynice was 23, she lost both of her parents. Soon, she was struggling as a single mother to her son Jaheel and surviving on public assistance. Shynice dreamed of supporting her family by working in the medical field like her mother, but without a degree, training, or guidance, she didn’t know where to start.

What Shynice did have was a determination to build a better life. She happened upon information about STRIVE’s medical billing program and started the program with a focus on healthcare. She gained the skills she needed but more importantly, she found a support system and learned the importance of a positive attitude, taking initiative, and believing in herself.

When Shynice graduated, she put what she learned to work right away. STRIVE helped her get an internship with Modern MD Urgent Care, which turned into a full-time job and a promotion. She has returned to STRIVE to receive 10 professional certifications to advance her career and started a college fund for Jaheel. One day she hopes to start her own medical billing company.

“When I came to STRIVE, I was like a caterpillar,” she says. “When I left I had wings, and I’ve been flying ever since.”

Student Story: Shaquava

Shaquava came to STRIVE uncertain of her future, but ready to take steps toward success. She had some college credits, though without a degree or much work experience, employers couldn’t see her potential.

During her time at STRIVE, Shaquava reclaimed her confidence, revealing an incredible drive. After graduating from Career Path, she impressed many employer partners, and even began to plan her return to college. The staff at STRIVE helped her overcome insecurities, making sure she didn’t settle for jobs that weren’t a good fit, but waited for the better opportunities that would surely come her way. Shaquava kept working hard and building up her confidence, and soon she landed a job at Beam Living!

Shaquava is completely elated with her accomplishments and excited about her new position. STRIVE is proud to provide individuals like her with the guidance they need to achieve their dreams.

"STRIVE has changed the trajectory of my life," Shaquava says. "Without STRIVE, my journey could be full of a lot more mistakes and a lot less opportunities."

STRIVE Student Profiled in The New York Times

Markus, a student at STRIVE affiliate site Jevs Human Services, wanted more from his life than the odd jobs he’d been doing. He thought to himself, “Here’s the risk, here’s the reward. What are you going to do?”

Read his story profiled in The New York Times, which highlights why programs like STRIVE’s are so important.

Student Story: Jeanette

Jeanette had dreams of having her own office one day, with her degrees framed on the wall. But she didn't have the opportunity to achieve those dreams. Then she found STRIVE.

At STRIVE, Jeanette learned the skills she needed, from using Microsoft Office to creating a resume to life lessons like how to take responsibility and feel confident in her abilities. With the help of STRIVE's trainers, she realized that she could fulfill her amibitions and do anything.

Just two weeks after graduating, Jeanette was hired at a law firm, and the skills she had gained at STRIVE helped her thrive. While working, she went backt o school to get a degree in Business Management, studied abroad in China and Tibet, and has now bought a home with her husband and son. Now she works at Viacom and holds and MBA, and she's dreaming even bigger.

"I am so grateful to STRIVE for opening the door that started me on the path to a life I had dreamed of since I was a teenager," Jeanette said. "There are more doors to unlock, and I am enjoying the journey!"

Student Story: Dana

Dana was dealing with a lot: he was arrested while in high school, found himself selling drugs to survive, and was facing issues with alcohol and PTSD. But he knew he loved being a father, and he didn’t want to miss out on anything.

At STRIVE Baltimore, Dana took part in job readiness training and fatherhood workshops, preparing him both for a career in manufacturing and providing emotional and financial support to his family. He soon found a great job and brought his son to live with him full-time.

“It was STRIVE that inspired all this progress,” Dana said. “Once I truly understood the definition of integrity, I wanted it for myself.”

Student Story: Dan

After obtaining full custody of his daughter, Dan wanted to provide the best life he could for her. He took full advantage of STRIVE’s resources, coming to every family engagement activity, and finishing the program with his Security Certification and License.

Shortly after graduating our program, Dan was the victim of an illegal eviction, forcing him to move into a shelter with his daughter. He then sustained an injury that left him unable to work. But Dan was determined to give his daughter a bright future, so he came back to STRIVE for help. Our staff worked with Dan to find permanent housing for himself and his daughter and helped him find a with the Department of Homeland Security, where he is currently up for promotion. With the healthy relationship skills that he learned at STRIVE, Dan was even able to set up a visitation schedule so his daughter could bond with her mother.

Dan is happy with the life he has built for his family, and he has big dreams for his future.

Student Story: Ryan

Ryan wasn’t ready when he found himself as the sole caregiver for his young daughter. Gaining full custody took up most of his days, forcing him to leave his job. He needed help, and STRIVE was there for him.

STRIVE was able to provide for his daughter’s immediate needs, such as a warm coat and school supplies. Ryan also enrolled in STRIVE’s program to learn how to build a health relationship with his daughter, and we were able to help him find a job that matched his skills and his schedule.

Since completing our program, Ryan has reported that his daughter is doing very well and that she has become much more positive as she adjusts to her new life with her father.

We are so proud of Ryan and all of our STRIVE parents who come to STRIVE to build better lives for themselves and their families.

Student Story: Lashawn

Lashawn had been a straight A student and was accepted into John Jay College. But despite her hard work and ambitions, she didn’t feel prepared for the real world. She hadn’t had guidance from her family about how to turn her aspirations into reality, to form her own identity, or find her happiness. She was vulnerable, and fell into string of abusive relationships, dropped out of school, and had three children with a violent man. One day, she realized she wanted to change her life and do better for her family, so she packed up her children and moved to a domestic violence shelter. She couldn’t get the traction she needed to finish her degree or find a fulfilling job. She felt like a failure, like she was out of control, like there was no way out.

Lashawn came to STRIVE to improve her computer skills and maybe get a job, but found so much more.

“Not only did I get job skills,” Lashawn said, “I got myself back. I learned the importance of taking initiative, doing my best, and having the right attitude. But most importantly, I gained self-confidence. STRIVE forced me to look at myself and understand where I was and how I got there.”

By the time she graduated, Lashawn was confident. She knew her worth, and she wasn’t going to give up. She moved out of the shelter, put her children in school, finished her own college degree, and found a job at the New York Department of Investigations, where she is still working today.

“Now I smile all the time,” said Lashawn. “And I want to thank STRIVE for helping make a future for me and all who will follow me.”

Student Story: Romy

Romelia moved to the United States at age 17 after a terrorist attack at her school in Peru. She believed the United States was a land of opportunity, but with without knowing English, she couldn’t get the job or education she needed to take part in that opportunity. She was stuck—until one day, she saw an advertisement for STRIVE.

STRIVE taught Romy about professionalism and the working culture in the U.S. Using what she learned, Romy was able to achieve all she had dreamed of when she left Peru. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree and is working towards her Master’s. She bought a house, became a U.S. citizen, and worked her way up to a six figure salary at HealthCare Partners in Long Island.

Romy has never forgotten STRIVE. She has worked for STRIVE, has hired STRIVE graduates, and will be an ambassador at our 35th Anniversary Gala in November!

“I still live by the lessons I learned at STRIVE, and I share them with my family, my friends, and my clients,” Romy says. “The impact that STRIVE makes in one person’s life ripples out to so many others. So many of my dreams have come true, and I owe so much of it to STRIVE.”

Student Story: Kerry

Kerry wanted to build a future he could be excited about, but facing a four-year sentence on Rikers, he felt like he couldn’t. His facilitator at STRIVE convinced him to try.

Kerry joined our youth program and quickly proved how dedicated he was. He came to class professionally dressed every day and gave it his all during internships and temporary work assignments. Due to his hard work and exceptional growth in character, Kerry’s sentence was reduced from four years to just eight months.

Kerry has now been home for a month. He has a job at Friends of Island Academy, where he refers his clients to STRIVE, saying STRIVE is “the best out there for young adults.” He is taking college courses at Columbia University and creating the future he always wanted for himself—and his five-year-old daughter. He is grateful to STRIVE for never leaving his side and giving him as many chances as he needed to “get it together,” and we are grateful to him for being a great youth ambassador and for remembering us during every step of his path to success.