To give you an accurate picture of StepUp Greensboro, I’m going to need you to close your eyes. Imagine that you have just a few (or no) reliable people in your life. Imagine that you’ve been working dead-end, minimum wage jobs for your entire life. You never got your high-school diploma, and you might have spent the last 10 years of your life in prison and have little to no work experience. Every single job interview you go to ends in disappointment and rejection.
Now, imagine yourself being told that there is hope for your
future and that you are, in fact, employable. Imagine being told that you are a
person of worth, who is now a part of a family that will be there to support
you as you transition into a new life-system. This is a priceless thing to observe
on the Monday morning of Job Readiness class week at StepUp Greensboro. Some
are skeptical as we, the staff, introduce ourselves and give words of
encouragement and welcome, but as the week progresses, they begin to open up
and connect with the staff and their fellow participants.
StepUp provides an open window to people who feel that they
are stuck in a dark place. Beyond learning how to write a resume or talk in an
interview, you learn about who you are. You learn how to be a better person in
all of your relationships and how to face fears with strength.
Working at StepUp has been one of the best decisions I’ve
ever made. It has caused me to break outside of myself and move forward in
life, for the sake of helping others do the same. It has helped me to be a more
authentic person, and it pushes me to be a woman of integrity. I’m surrounded
each day by the StepUp staff, who I now consider dear friends, and they speak
truth to me and by example, they remind me to place others ahead of myself. I’ve learned and am constantly digesting that
it’s okay to fail at something and not crumble, but to learn and do better next
time. I will forever be grateful for being placed here and know that there is a
permanent stitching on my heart from this lovely place.
This post was written by AmeriCorps member Kerry. To learn more about Step Up Greensboro, check them out online at http://stepupgreensboro.org/.
