Our Graduates are more than just clients, they are a part of the STRIVE Family!

  Jwan Jordan

STRIVING VIGILANTLY

MY NAME IS JWAN JORDAN, 

I AM ONE OF THE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE BEEN HELPED BY THE STRIVE PROGRAM.  THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF THE STRIVE PROGRAM ARE SOUND AND VALUABLE, FORMING PERFECT SYNCHRONIZATION IN TERMS OF HELPING STUDENTS BECOME BETTER IN THE JOB ORIENTED SOCIETY.  IN A MODERN SOCIETY THAT’S ALWAYS ON THE GO AND POPULATED BY SO MANY OTHERS LOOKING TO GET AHEAD JUST AS YOURSELF; IT'S CRUCIAL TO GET THE JOB TRAINING ADVANTAGE THAT STRIVE OFFERS TO GIVE YOU.   

UPON ENTERING STRIVES PROGRAM FOR THE FIRST TIME I WAS TIMID, WITHDRAWN AND I POSSESSED THE SOCIAL INEQUITIES OF A DECREPIT HERMIT.  YET STRIVE FOCUSED TIME AND EFFORT ON HELPING ME TO OVERCOME THESE SOCIAL BARRIERS.  THROUGH SPECIFIC EXERCISES, PRACTICES AND SOCIAL CONFRONTATIONS; I WAS BROUGHT OUT OF MY TIMID INCLINATIONS. 

UPON GRADUATING I WAS GRANTED ACCESS TO STRIVE'S COMPUTER LAB WHICH I USE AMPLY TO SEARCH FOR BETTER JOBS.  I CAN ALSO PRINT OUT RESUMES AND STAY INFORMED ABOUT IMPORTANT JOB EVENTS.  STRIVE IS A VERY POSITIVE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT THAT FOCUSES ON IMPROVEMENT AND NOTHING LESS.  IN LEAVING THE PROGRAM, I LEFT WITH MORE THAN JUST A JOB BUT CONFIDENCE AND SKILL TO HARVEST IN LIFE ITSELF.

THANKS STRIVE

JWAN JORDAN

Chris Meyers

        My name is Chris for all it’s worth. I went through the STRIVE course back in November of 2004. At first I thought the same thing some of the people working there thought, that I had all my stuff together and I was headed in the right direction on my own. So why did I need this then? I asked myself the same question. On orientation day I almost did not come back the following Monday, yet I thought it couldn’t hurt to see if this could help me.  I know I had some issues that could be worked on, but I didn’t think this course could help me (boy was I wrong again).

        The problem I had was that I kept getting mad at people that I would talk to about a good idea I had to improve something that would help the company I worked for. They would usually say that it wouldn’t work, so don’t even brother trying it. Then about a month later they would go to the boss (sometimes the person I told was the boss) and tell them the idea I had would work. I was getting mad because I wasn’t getting the credit I felt I disserved.

        STRIVE has helped me in more ways then I can probably mention, but here are a few. STRIVE helped with the problem that I started above by showing me that although we may not get credit all the time, as long as we know it was our idea that worked that was good enough. Sometimes though you do have to step up and not let people walk all over you like they were doing to me. Now I pick my battles wisely. They helped to show me to stand up for myself more, to walk and talk with more confidence.

Did you notice I did not say to let pride get in the way? I recall an old country song that said (You have to know when to hold’em and when to fold’em). That means you have to know when to just let things roll off your back and not let it get to you. Even though you were hired to drive a fork truck and you are asked to sweep the floor, you are getting paid the same to do either one. Chances are you are being paid more then the guy that usually sweeps the floor, so why not just do it, your making the same amount to do either job.

I now work at MTA not including the other jobs I have. STRIVE has help because without them I would have had to drive around to each and every place to fill out an application or find some way to fax them my resume. It’s not like most of us who are in need of a job have a fax machine just lying around. They also helped me by giving me leads to other jobs that might not have been in the paper. I also do taxes for people.

I am sure that STRIVE will help you just the same as they helped me. All you need to do is listen to them and do what is asked of you and you will have no problem with anyone who works at STRIVE. They are a bunch of great people, although it may not seem that way sometimes (if your not listening). If you don’t remember any thing I told you here in this letter, at least remember to listen and do what you are asked to do, everything will go a lot smoother that way. 

Sincerely,

Chris Meyers

Strive helped me to focus on my strengths and gave me the skills to feel confident, when I went on interviews. I got an opportunity to attend Mott Collage and finished the Manufacturing course that lasted four weeks thru STRIVE’s Manufacturing program.

 Beverly Jenkins

          I immediately got hired in a full-time position as a treatment administrator in a residential drug center. I work the position for l year although I got laid off because of budget cuts, I truly know that without the training from STRIVE I would not been able to market myself for the position.

STRIVE has continued to be supportive, and as a graduate STRIVE allows me to utilize their computers and job search center. I am very grateful for this program and I am very confident that I shall continue to be a success. Also, I was given the opportunity to join the STRIVE Team as one of their Transportation Specialist, to help other graduates get back and forth to work.

Beverly Jenkins

Kevin Cox

            “You will never be able to work again, at least not for a long time.”  This is what the doctors told me when I was diagnosed with a chronic illness almost a year ago, June 2004.  I became extremely depressed and felt as though I was useless even to my fiancé whom I was to marry only two months after the diagnosis.  At first I thought that the doctors knew what they were talking about because I lost a lot of weight and muscle, which caused me to have trouble walking and doing basic household chores.  I stayed in doors most of the time and stared at a computer screen just plunking away and learning new things, when finally it hit me, why couldn’t I become a secretary or assistant of some sort.  After these thoughts started creeping into my head I decided to do something about them, and began looking for a job.  I applied for position after position with little or no luck to speak of. 

            One morning as I was going through the “want ads”, as I had done so often before, I came across an ad that caught my attention.  I am not sure why this is, because the print was so small and the add was brief and to the point, but maybe it was the wording, STRIVE.  The ad said that there was a free facility that would help people to attain jobs.  This sounded great to me, job placement for free!  So I decided to take a gander at what they had to offer. 

            When I arrived at the office of the STRIVE program they had me answer and file out paperwork, which I thought was necessary for job placement.  Then they told me that the classes are three weeks long and they would start on, such and such, a date.  This floored me in my own mind.  I was not sure what to think and said that I would be at the first class, I mean, why not, I wasn’t getting anywhere on my own. 

            The next week, or maybe it was longer I am not sure; I arrived for orientation and noticed how many different sorts of people there were.  It wasn’t just a few people that were having a hard time getting a job, but a lot.  The room was packed and then Mr. Walker came in the room and introduced himself, and said that the room would not be so full the following week, because if anyone had the notion that the STRIVE program was just going to give you a job then that person would be sadly disappointed.  After orientation I thought to myself if it would be worth while to stay with this program, “they aren’t even going to find me a job”, I thought to myself.  “However, maybe I could learn something from this program, maybe there is a reason why I am here”.  With this thought I decided to stay. 

            The next few weeks were grueling to some of the people in the class, because of the rules and regulations that had to be followed.  Some of the people did not appreciate as I did the reasons for doing the homework and other assignments that were given.  I, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoyed having the classroom atmosphere back again.  I did the best that I could on all of the assignments, and at the end I was rewarded with my own self-appreciation.  During those weeks of class I was taught not only how to have a good interview, or how to find a job, but how to build my own self-esteem and self-confidence.  It has helped me on a number of levels. 

            After graduating the program I began job searching again day in and day out, but this time it was with more confidence and with the “know how” that landed me the job I have now.  It wasn’t given to me, as I had previously thought was going to happen, by this STRIVE program, but instead I sent out resume after resume and went to three or four interviews a week. 

            The first interview I had was with a facility for people with mental illness, Rose Hill Center.  I applied as a secretary and was called in for an interview.  I didn’t get that job.  A few weeks later, the person that I interviewed with called me back and said that they had an opening for a support staff in the day shift, and asked if I would like another interview.  I accepted with great gratitude and went the next week for the interview.  And to make a long story short, I got the position and began working the next week. 

            Four months later I was asked to become an Instructor at this facility and teach daily, practical, living skills to the residents at Rose Hill.  I accepted and am now teaching in the morning, and working with the residents in the afternoon for work therapy.  To ease the monotony of the everyday classroom atmosphere, I sometimes teach some of the important contents that I have taken with me from STRIVE, and it is very well received.

            I would strongly recommend this program to anyone, whether they have a job or need one, because everyone could work on one thing or another in life and this is a great way to start.

Kevin Cox

 Diana Robinson

First of all I want to thank God who has done so many great things for me…

The reason I joined the Flint Area Strive Program is because I hadn’t worked for seven years and I needed help updating my resume and guidance with my Job searching strategies for obtaining employment.

Under supervision, STRIVE has trained me to be professional and organized. Also STRIVE trained on how to conduct business, to enhance my skills, and trades for the purpose of securing job opportunities. They also train you to interview properly and to dress for success.

If you have a misdemeanor or a felony conviction record, STRIVE can help you obtain success regardless of your history. Forgive yourself and move forward. Your past sins are covered in the blood of Jesus. Never stop Striving for excellence.

We can do all things through Christ who strengthens US!

STRIVE Graduate