Genesee - Christopher’s journey towards success began when he enrolled with Flint Genesee Job Corps Center in 2019. Christopher’s goals for himself were to obtain his high school diploma, graduate with a trade, and go into the Air Force. Christopher stayed on top of his schoolwork and made sure he maintained his grades.

In 2021, Christopher was referred over to GST Michigan Works!, where he met his JMG Specialist, Dominque Clay. He was in the Homeland Security field, which fit in perfectly with his goals by teaching him the skills necessary to be successful in the military. While Christopher was at Job Corps his Specialist would meet him at the Job Corps campus and encourage him to continue to move forward. The effort Christopher was putting in was recognized and he was offered paid work experience to gain the employment skills he needed while completing his education. During this time working with GSTMW Christopher was able to obtain his high school diploma, complete paid work experience and gain his certificate in Homeland Security.

In December of 2021, Ms. Clay was informed that Christopher was preparing to leave Job Corps and was on his way to joining the Air Force. Christopher informed his Specialist that he scored an 82 on his ASVAB and all he had left to do was get clearance from a doctor stating that he was all set to join up.

Unfortunately, Christopher did not get cleared, but because he did such an excellent job at Job Corps and was an upstanding student, the facility welcomed him back until he was able to go into the Air Force. Together with Job Corps, the support of JMG and WIOA OOSY programming, Christopher was able to push through these setbacks, keeping a determined eye on his dream of joining the military.

Finally, the day came when Christopher was able to join the Air Force. He signed his papers in October of 2022 as an Air Force Networking Systems Operating Assistant. He currently makes $18.88 an hour working 40 hours a week full-time. When his Specialist asked what kept him going, he had this to say, “I never lost focus of what I wanted and where I wanted to be in life. I come from a military family background, and I just wanted to make them and myself proud.” We couldn’t be anymore proud of Christopher and look forward to now watching him live out his dreams!