WorkStartYES

As a child of adversity, Elizabeth Harris has been fighting her entire life to achieve her vision of success. Juggling a diffi cult home life, work, and school, Elizabeth turned to the WorkStartYES program to fi d stability and see her life-long vision become a reality.

After transferring in and out of several high schools, Elizabeth became part of one., an alternative education program run by San Joaquin County Offi ce of Education. School was one of many responsibilities Elizabeth had within her troubled home where, as the only girl of many siblings, she was forced into the motherly role. With so many demands, Elizabeth struggled to keep her life in balance.

“Doing what I wanted versus doing the right thing was difficult for me,” said Elizabeth. “Being a part of one. and WorkStartYES helped me accelerate my life and make a tremendous turnaround.”

While attending one., Elizabeth was introduced to WorkStartYES, a program that works with students who have dropped out of school or are in danger of doing so. The program mentors these students by motivating them in their studies and developing work skills. WorkStartYES provides them with work experience by partnering with WorkNET of San Joaquin County, an outreach program that helps students find employment in public service organizations.

Elizabeth’s former supervisor and WorkStartYES Career Developer, Kim Mans, became attached to Elizabeth during her journey through the program. “We gave her a second chance here and she became like a daughter to me. We saw her blossom as she built her work ethic and began to want better for herself—to escape her past and strive for more,” said Kim.

In Elizabeth’s eyes, the real difference made in her life came from the teachers and mentors in one. and WorkStartYES. “The traditional high school setting was a struggle for me. I found myself needing more attention from the teachers. At WorkStartYES and one. I had teachers that had a passion for what they were doing. They are the reason I am where I am now,” said Harris.

Through WorkStartYES she gained clerical and communication skills; however, Elizabeth’s turnaround didn’t happen overnight. While the average student remains in the program for one to two years, Elizabeth spent four years within WorkStartYES. Career Developer Bill Mendosa, whom Elizabeth credits much of her success, worked with her all four years and never stopped believing in Elizabeth’s potential.

“She never quit; that was always what inspired me. Despite the adversity in her life, she was always fi ghting. That’s who she is,” said Mendosa. “She didn’t always make the right choices, but eventually she made the necessary changes in her life to achieve her vision.”

Having recently bought a new house and a new car, Elizabeth is now living her dream. As an employee of San Joaquin Juvenile Detention Center, Elizabeth plans to return to school to become a parole agent and help troubled children achieve their own success. With Elizabeth’s ambition, it’s only a matter of time.

“WorkStartYES taught me that I could become so much more than what I grew up with. I’m overwhelmed with life right now— I’m ecstatic,” said Elizabeth.