“It is our duty to seek out and build relationships with the 75% of trainees who are working hard to do the next right thing. Our trainees deserve to be recognized for doing good things, and it is imperative that we go out of our way to do that.  Positive reinforcement is needed always.  We are always on top of it when it comes to reprimand those who violate center policies, so let’s make an even greater effort to congratulate and motivate and mentor those who do well.”

Michelle Delk, TEAP Specialist at the San Jose Job Corps Center, gave an emotional talk at the San Francisco Region’s Health and Wellness Conference in Seattle, Washington earlier this month.  At the end of her talk, Michelle received a standing ovation.  Tears were flowing in the audience.  She was simply inspirational.  Michelle’s words were so powerful because she believes in the good in the students she serves.  As the center’s TEAP specialist, she could focus on those students who come in positive for drugs or those who get caught drinking alcohol.  And, of course, Michelle does work with students who break the rules, but she also takes time to meet the students who consistently do the right thing.

Meanwhile, 2,644 miles away at the Mississippi Job Corps Center in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, a student named Junesha was doing the right thing.  Junesha is the kind of student that you don’t hear much about.  It’s not that Junesha is vastly different from other Job Corps students. Actually, she’s probably like the majority of students. So, why don’t we hear much about students like Junesha?  Maybe it’s just that the students who get in trouble capture our attention.  Maybe we don’t look hard enough for the good stuff.

Junesha doesn’t do drugs.  She doesn’t get in fights or cause trouble on center.  In fact, she has enjoyed Job Corps since her arrival.  Junesha loves field trips to the bowling alley and hanging out in the recreation center.  She will receive her high school diploma soon and is learning health occupations and retail sales, but her real passion is doing hair.  She likes Job Corps, but is also excited to graduate and head to college.  Junesha wants to do so many things with her life.  She wants to work her way through school to become a pharmacy technician and own her own beauty salon on the side.  She’s excited that she will be able to afford an apartment.  After graduation, she plans to buy a Ford Focus.  Junesha has an incredibly bright future.

Like most of our Job Corps students, Junesha didn’t love high school.  She was getting in trouble, listening to all those bad influences in life.  Junesha is a strong, independent young woman.  She decided that it was up to her to create a positive future for herself.  She said “Job Corps was meant for me to come, because I don’t know what else I’d be doing.”  She’s right.  Job Corps exists because of students like Junesha -- students who do the right thing.

Junesha helps out in the wellness center a few hours a week as part of her work-based learning.  Beverly Perkins, the center’s health and wellness manager, suggested her for this article.  When asked why she suggested Junesha, Beverly said, “This young lady is very employable and very committed to gaining the most she can from her experience at the center.  I felt she would provide a realistic view of what the Mississippi JCC was all about.”  Junesha provides a realistic view of the Mississippi JCC and of Job Corps in general.  She is part of the silent majority of students who abide by the rules, learn what they are here to learn, and get the most out of Job Corps. 

Sometime this week, you’ll see a student who is doing something great, or simply doing what they are supposed to be doing.  Open your eyes and look for something good.  When you see this student, listen to Michelle’s advice -- go up to them, praise them, thank them, hug them, or congratulate them.  They are what this program is all about.