As you start this new year, you might be reflecting on what you\u00a0accomplished\u00a0and what you hope to do in the upcoming year. Setting goals can be an excellent way to continue advancing and building a life you love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Justin had a goal, too. He wanted to graduate from high school, but sometimes life forces us in a different direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Justin is an only child and has always had a great relationship with his mom. When she fell ill, life turned upside down. Justin had to take on more responsibility and grow up fast to\u00a0help manage the household. Unfortunately, that meant dropping out of school to work more hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earning a High School Diploma\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Eventually, his mom did recover, but so much time had passed since he was last enrolled that Justin found it difficult to return to school.\u00a0After a while, he came to Goodwill Industries of Upstate\/Midlands South Carolina (Greenville) to meet with an employment specialist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While he came into the Goodwill career center looking for a job, during their conversation, the employment specialist realized that the\u00a0LifeLaunch\u00a0program could help him\u00a0accomplish\u00a0both his dream of completing high school and help him find a better paying job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, the\u00a0LifeLaunch\u00a0program was full. With each enrollment cycle,\u00a0the\u00a0majority of\u00a0students\u00a0admitted\u00a0had some sort of\u00a0justice\u00a0involvement,\u00a0and only 10% of students\u00a0came\u00a0to the program just for educational benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Justin stayed positive through this\u00a0initial\u00a0disappointment, and then he received the call. The program was finally able to enroll more students, which meant Justin could work toward that coveted high school diploma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Along with earning his degree, Justin decided to enroll in OSHA 10 and forklift training at Midlands Technical College.\u00a0This earned him a position as a forklift operator at a local company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finding a Long-Term Career\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After graduation, he continued his education with a welding course. When he needed steel-toe boots for class, Goodwill and\u00a0LifeLaunch\u00a0were able to provide them, so he\u00a0didn’t\u00a0have to worry about the financial burden it might bring to his family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Justin lives by his motto, \u201cI want to be the best me I can be,\u201d and he proves it every day.\u00a0Now, Justin has a clear path forward to a career,\u00a0along with his diploma and\u00a0numerous\u00a0certificates. Time will only tell what Justin\u00a0will achieve in the year to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n