From Struggle to Service

Flint – Ushiena Fleming is a high school graduate looking to advance was working dead end jobs and barely scraping by when she came to GST Michigan Works! for assistance with training.  Ushiena was adamant about going into CDLA training. She felt that this occupation would allow her the opportunity to have a career that didn’t require advanced education. She knew that she could feasibly make a long-term commitment to this profession because she didn’t have children dependent on her. 

Ushiena set out on her course and began her training in CDL A. She was focused and determined to complete this training and begin making a living wage. Unfortunately, during her 4-week program she experienced the great loss of her sister who passed away unexpectedly. This caused her to have a delay in training to get past the initial shock and prepare for her beloved sister’s funeral proceedings. A request for a brief amount of excused time from training was granted. 

After this great upset, Ushiena came back stronger than ever and was able to complete her training! She applied to several driving positions, and she also applied to work for the Department of Corrections where she was pursuing prisoner transportation. She went through several interviews that even required a reference from her Career Coach, Danita Horcha. 

After she had completed all the interviews, tests, and background checks, she was hired April 3, 2023, not as a transportation worker but as a Corrections Officer for the prison in a local community. 

As her Career Coach, I am very proud of Ushiena for her perseverance towards her goals, her academic aptitude and her unblemished background that allowed her to pursue employment that is only obtained by individuals with stellar character.