Do It Well or Not At All

Do It Well or Not At All
My Job Corps Experience

By Briana M. Gosier, Op-Ed

Growing up, my great-grandmother would tell us, “Whether the task be great or small, do it well or not at all.” I have turned this saying into my life mantra. When I was younger, I knew I wanted something more for my life, so I decided to join the Montgomery Job Corps Center. There, I graduated with my certified nursing assistant license and proceeded to work as a nursing assistant in Atlanta, Georgia. I then decided to go back to Job Corps because I believed in what it had to offer. I knew that by enrolling again, Job Corps would give me the skills and structure I needed to start my career. This time, I applied to the Earle C. Clements Job Corps Center, which is operated by Management and Training Corporation, in Morganfield, Kentucky. I want young people to know that Job Corps is a great place to start if you are unsure of what you want to do in life or if you need some extra help discovering your natural talents.

At Earle C. Clements Job Corps Center, I enrolled in the medical office support program so I could learn more about how healthcare offices work. My instructor, Ms. Lewis, had over 20 years of experience and provided us with real-life scenarios and work-based learning experiences. My work-based learning (internship) happened in the center’s human resources department, and I’ve been able to apply the skills I learned from this experience to my current job.

The staff at Earle C. Clements were amazing–they saw things in me that I didn’t see in myself. I’ve always been told that I am a natural-born leader, but I never believed it until I joined the student government association. With the support of my family, friends, and instructors, I was able to overcome my fears of public speaking and interacting with strangers. This leap of faith helped me learn that I have the instinctive ability to inspire others and help them reach their goals, and that I don’t have to be afraid of talking to other people.

Student government also helped me in other areas. When I entered the college program at Job Corps, I had the opportunity to become a student government member at Ivy Tech Community College in Evansville, Indiana. I also had the privilege of joining the Student Leadership Academy and Phi Theta Kappa, an honor society program at Ivy Tech. I was given these opportunities because of the valuable skills I learned at Job Corps, and I will forever be grateful for these experiences.

After I graduated from Ivy Tech and Earle C. Clements, I attended Southern Illinois University (SIU) and received a bachelor’s degree in healthcare management, with a minor in finance. In order to complete my degree, an internship was required. I chose to do a 150-hour internship with the CEO of a rural, critical access hospital in Nashville, Illinois. During this internship, I was able to learn about human resources, long-term care, medical records, billing, marketing, and more. That internship was a great opportunity for me to use the soft skills Job Corps taught me (such as communication) as I learned about healthcare operations.

After graduating from SIU, I immediately enrolled in graduate school. I attended Capella University and received a master’s degree in public health, with an emphasis in healthcare policy and management. This degree allows me to be a leader within the healthcare industry as I work with policymakers to find solutions to the ailments that are troubling today’s population.

Job Corps gave me the jump start I needed to find my career path. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to get my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in healthcare. I believe that young people today can benefit from Job Corps, especially if college is not for them. Job Corps boosts morale, makes people feel included, and gives them the opportunities to earn valuable certifications. I am a better person and employee because of the training and support I received from both of the centers I attended. I highly recommend this program to any youth who are interested.