Program Details

Aileen always envisioned a healthcare career, but wasn’t sure where to begin. Determined to create a better future for herself and her son, she connected with Youth Job Center to gain the guidance, training, and support needed to turn her goals into reality. Through hard work, perseverance, and a commitment to learning, Aileen transformed her ambition into a successful healthcare career.

Aileen began with workforce readiness training, where she developed essential job-search skills, including resume writing, interviewing, networking, and professional communication. She then entered the healthcare career pathway program, working one-on-one with her career coach to set goals and create a clear plan for success.

Her hard work quickly paid off when she secured a Paid Work Experience (PWE) as a pharmacy technician intern at a local Walgreens. Aileen not only enjoyed the experience—she excelled in the role and earned a permanent position with Walgreens at the conclusion of her PWE. Since then, she has continued investing in her professional growth by successfully passing the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) exam. Today, Aileen proudly works as a Certified Pharmacy Technician at Walgreens, where she provides quality care to her community while continuing to build a rewarding career in healthcare.

With Aileen’s determination, resilience, and commitment to achieving her goals, we have every confidence that her future in the healthcare field will remain bright.

In Her Own Words…

Before YJC, I was a young mom feeling stuck, like I had no idea where even to start, but I knew I had to do better. I had a point to prove: to see how much more I could do for myself, my son, and our future. Having just recently received my high school diploma, three years after dropping out, I was determined to start immediately. With nothing but a Google search to advise me, I stumbled upon YJC and filled in my info, thinking I’d be receiving spam mail instead of any help because of every other site I had tried.

Within a week, I was able to join an informative session explaining the services I could receive. In shock that I could actually get this help, I had a one-on-one conversation with someone from YJC, got instant responses, and was even paired with a career advisor.

About two months in, I was an intern at a pharmacy and enrolled in a phlebotomy course. With the support of my career advisor and YJC, I received one-on-one tutoring, mentoring, assistance with school supplies, including my very own laptop, gas gift cards to help me get from school to work, and, overall, the encouragement and extra push I didn’t know I needed.

Fast forward to the present day: I am a part-time employee at the pharmacy where I interned, a certified phlebotomist, and in the process of becoming a medical assistant. I am truly so thankful for YJC and am so blessed to have been introduced to this amazing organization and opportunity, which I had no idea was even available to me.