"I know I will be there soon..."

Success Story: Janette Cuevas

(Cuevas and her two children)

This month I decided to choose someone I knew personally as my success story. This is Janette Cuevas, my cousin. Who just enrolled into our High School Completion program. Janette grew up as the only girl in a family of five so, she was constantly competing with the boys in her family. Janette started working full time at the age of fifth-teen to help pay bills around the house. However, it took a toll on her education. Soon after she started working, she dropped out of High School. Janette then went to work in the fast food industry, she also worked the reception desk at a local hotel, and even interned at a local radio station. She then started working at a local Chipotle Restaurant. In 2011, Janette gave birth to a handsome little boy by the name of Mason, then in 2013 gave birth to another handsome little boy by the name of Ian. Janette is now the manager of the Chipotle Restaurant she works in. However, she feels that not having her High School diploma is holding her back. This and her children have empowered her to go back to school and get her diploma so they could have and live a better life.

When I asked Janette what her meaning of success was she replied, “Success to me is being happy with those you love. I’m happy, but I am not yet where I want to be in life but I know I will be there soon to make a better life for myself and my two little boys!”

Chautauqua High School Presentation

Earlier this month, Sarah and I went to Chautauqua Highschool to give a presentation about The Career Center and what our program could do for them. We were introduced by the principal, Doug Lane, to all of the school's students gathered in their meeting room. Doug introduced us as the next step in students futures. We then talked with them about our WIA program and the Career Center in general. A lot of the kids seemed really interested!

After our presentation was over Doug gave us their meeting room to stay during break to talk more with anyone who had any questions or wanted to sign up. We got a total of eight people who have is their contact information and set up days to meet up with Cheryl, The Career Center of Big Bear Mentor.  It was so great to see these kids find our program and what we do something that they would like to be apart of!

-Dezi

Sarah Hilton's Story of Success

Sarah Hilton is a former student of The Career Institute. She has successfully accomplished  many of our certification programs such as; Customer Service, Small Business Management and Financial Freedom in 2012. She became employed with Little Ceasar's this past October. Sarah is using the skills she has learned  at the Career Institute in her everyday life while working as a Cashier and managing her own money.

Sarah is currently attending Sierra College in Rocklin to gain her four year degree in becoming an American Sign Language Interpreter. She chose this career path because she sees the need for help for the hearing impaired. Her sister got her involved in signing when she was younger and loves everything about helping others and learning a whole new language without having to speak.

"Thank you for letting me have the chance to obtain the knowledge in small business management and how to handle customers with the courses I was able to be apart of."

Viridiana's Take on Success

Raised in Big Bear Lake, California, Viridiana Salinas has proven that you can stay in your hometown and continue to be successful. She is twenty two years old, currently attending college, working two jobs, and starting up her own business.She is a determined individual and plans to achieve every single goal she sets her mind to. One of these goals that she is achieving already is paying for college on her own. Viridiana is working towards an Associate's Degree in Business Administration, and plans to continue towards her Bachelor's.Viri likes going to the community college courses offered at the high school in Big Bear and she feels very lucky that they are available. She works as a server part-time at a well known restaurant called Jasper's Smokehouse, and is an Office Aide for the Career Center of Big Bear. Working both jobs is time-consuming, but she wouldn't trade the memories she's made with her co-workers, and the customers and students she's been able to help for anything in the world. With excellent customer service and organizational skills, she handles both of these jobs with ease. As an Office Aide of the Career Center, and an assistant to our NUA Teacher Colin Schour, she helps with the enrollment process of each student, as well as keeping up with all the documents that need to be turned to in for each student each month and end of semester.Along with all that, she is also now officially a business owner! She just obtained her license to Melody's Cleaning Service! Viri feels confident that her business will shine in Big Bear. This is her beginning chapter into the business world, and she hopes one day to own a second business in the food or sales industry. An adventurous and tenacious entrepreneur making her mark in Big Bear, Viridiana is a definition of success.

Gardening with The Community!

On Monday, Sarah and I went over to the Big Bear Community Garden to reach out to them about our program and what we can offer them. We talked a lot about our WIA Program, and how we are trying to generate as many opportunities for the youth in our community as possible. As Ambassadors, we also wanted to make it clear that while The Career Center is here to help out our young adults of Big Bear, we are also here to help the businesses and organizations of Big Bear. We want our small town to thrive and be successful, and if our students can help in this town's succession, we want to do just that. After sharing our individual stories of how this program helped us, we answered their questions about our Work Experience part of the program and how it all works.

Afterward, Dave, one of the employees of the Community Garden, explained to us what they are trying to do for Big Bear and its inhabitants. Dave told us that they are wanting to grow more vegetables and fruits for the food banks and schools, so that our community can have fresh grown food. Their garden is completely organic and mindful of the environment, they are wanting to make a difference. We, The Career Center, are helping young adults build strong foundations for their futures, while the Community Garden is providing healthy foods to the less fortunate and to Big Bear's youth. It is amazing to be able to talk and work with another organization so geared towards helping others.

-Dezi Guillen and Sarah Avignone

Breanna LaVoire Success Story

          

Breanna LaVoire is now successful by having a full-time job as a house cleaner. She starts school for Cosmetology in June where she will be attending part time. Breanna and her boyfriend have their own apartment in Huntington Beach, CA. While attending the Career institute she learned a lot about customer service, and retail sales. She got to do a total of 150 hours of work experience split between Chautauqua High school & The Nutmeg Hair Salon. She has received a lot of work experience with office work as she was offered to be the Executive Assistant at the Career Center of Big Bear for a year and a half. Breanna also got over her fear of being too shy to talk to new people or in front of people. The Career Institute helped her obtain her first car. All of the money she had saved from doing the work experience got her to her goal of owning a car. The Career Institute has helped her get experience to get other jobs, and they have helped her become more knowledgeable with customer service. With the Career Institute’s guidance, Breanna LaVoire is on her way to achieving her dreams. 

-Dezi Guillen 

High Desert Road Trip!

The Career Center of Big Bear gathered up a crew and took a road trip to the High Desert’s America’s Job Center! Living in a small mountain town like Big Bear, opportunities to further your education are slim, and hearing about America’s Job Centers gave us Big Bearians hope!  America’s Job Centers are WIA funded programs for adults, helping them receive advice and job training to ultimately find their perfect job. We had about twenty people attending-WIA and Non-WIA Students- who were very excited to find out more about this program. Only an hour away, this center provides financial aid to pay for a certificate program of your choice. Most of the crew had great first impressions and can’t wait to get started! The crew will be taking training in careers such as EMT, CNA, Aircraft Mechanic, etc. America’s Job Centers is a great opportunity to lead us to success!

-Dezi Guillen and Sarah Avignone