I currently work for the Ithaca Youth Bureau as a full time Youth Program Leader for the College Discovery Program. My first job as a teen was working for Ben and Jerry’s through the Youth Employment Service. Starting with YES allowed me to get a job that I may not of gotten on my own. It allowed me to build some time management skills because I had to balance my job with the other parts of my life. I usually used the money for school clothes or helping my mom out as much as I could. Helping my family financially always made be feel good. Many of the skills I use for my job now, I began to work on while having the support of YES. It was always helpful to be able to ask my YES rep questions with out feeling dumb or worrying about getting in trouble. Later I actually worked as a YES rep, and this allowed me to give the same support to students that I had received as a teen worker. I owe a lot of my professionalism and people skills to the practice I had working with YES. Now I am able to take care of my own family, while doing something I love and helping others. Did you get your #StartWithYES? Share your story here. |