Featured Photo: Jeremiah King
Written by Tanya Terry
Job Corps is the nation’s largest free education and job program for young adults. According to Job Corps’ website in addition to career training, Flint/Genesee Job Corps Center also provides academic training, including basic reading and math. Courses in independent living, employability skills and career success skills are offered to help students transition into the workplace. They also have several academic programs to help students achieve their full potential.
There are currently 10 students living on the campus of Job Corps-Flint.
“During the pandemic, the (Flint/Genesee Job Corps) center is currently offering virtual classes to all students whether they are the 10 students currently residing on center or the remaining living at home,” said Jessica Joiner, center director at Flint/Genesee Job Corps Center.
“The 10 students on center appreciate being in a safe place,” Joiner added. “I’m very proud of them as I know this year’s holidays will be very different than what they are used to experiencing. Their words are inspiring and encouraging!”
Here’s what three Job Corps-Flint students learning the homeland security trade are doing for the holidays!
Jeremiah King
Twenty-year-old Jeremiah King came to Job Corps-Flint to get his high school diploma and then go to college.
King was at Job Corps last year, and at that time he was able to go home for winter break and spend the holidays at his aunt’s house.
“On Christmas Eve I would like to stay up all night like I was waiting to see Santa and sit around the house and talk with mom, dad and grandma,” King said. “Christmas morning, we would get up and open up gifts and then prepare Christmas dinner. We would come together and sing Christmas songs. On New Year’s Eve we would sit around as a family and watch television until the ball dropped and drink sparkling wine. New Year’s Day I would get up and start making my New Year’s resolutions. My fondest memories are of all of us together opening Christmas presents and seeing the smiles on my mom, dad and grandma’s face as they watched us tear into all of the gifts.”
King’s life has changed in many ways because of the pandemic.
“Aside from not being able to go anywhere and having to wear a mask everywhere, now having to do virtual classes to complete my program has been very challenging for me,” King said “I miss being able to be in the classroom and having a more hands on approach to learning.”
King made some landscape paintings in arts activities to give them to his little brother and sister, who look up to him, and show them what he learned about painting.
King was unable to participate in any public service projects outside of Job Corps due to the pandemic. So on center he has become more involved in assisting the Recreation Department in planning activities on the Recreation Committee and helping staff with daily tasks and preparation.
“I also help motivate my peers in getting them involved in recreational programs.”
For Christmas Eve King contacted his family and wished them a Merry Christmas since he will not be able to be with them this year.
On Christmas Day he opened presents with my brother and friends at the center.
“New Year’s Eve I am going to contact family and friends and watch the ball drop on television with the other students. For New Year’s Day I will work on my New Year’s resolution which is to complete my exit plan for my program and thank God for letting me see another year.”
King said if he had one Christmas wish it would be just to spend one more Christmas with his mom and grandma.
Dominic Roberts
Eighteen-year-old Dominic Roberts also attends Job Corps-Flint.
“I am here at Job Corps because I found a great opportunity to do something in my life by completing my training in the Homeland Security trade,” he said.
Roberts was not a student at Job Corps last year. So, he spent the holidays at home enjoying family traditions.
“Traditionally on Christmas Eve as a family we would sit around a camp fire sharing Christmas memories and drink hot coco,” Roberts said. “Christmas morning, we would get up early and drink coffee and wait for my younger siblings to wake up and open Christmas presents. On New Year’s Eve we would sit around as a family and watch television until the ball dropped. New Year’s Day we would get together and start working on our New Year’s resolutions. My fondest memory is of my siblings and I opening all of our gifts and my grandpa asked me is there anything missing and then he came out the room and handed me my very first MP3 player.”
Earlier this year due to the pandemic Roberts was sent home. So he was unable to stay on track to finish his program at Job Corps this year.
“Now that I have been able to return I am on track and looking to complete my program in April of next year.”
Roberts made some slime over the Thanksgiving break.
“I plan to give it to my little sister who actually taught me how to make slime. I believe she will be proud of me!”
Due to the pandemic, Roberts is unable to leave the center. So he was unable to participate in any public service projects outside of Job Corps.
“Here on center I did, however, I did join the Recreation Committee to assist my fellow peers with activities and programs we wanted to see on the recreation calendar each month.”
For Christmas Eve Roberts sat around and watched Christmas movies with his friends, and on Christmas Day he was happy to open presents with and enjoy the company of other Job Corps students.
“New Year’s Eve I would like to continue with my family tradition of watching the ball drop on television with the other students. For New Year’s Day, I want to ask my friends here what their New Year’s resolution will be and how I can be of any help to them in achieving their goal.”
For Roberts’ Christmas wish he would like to see all of us in the world come together and be respectful of one another.
Twenty-three-year old Magdalene Her was a Job Corps student last year, and she spent her Christmas Eve at home with the whole family on her mother’s side exchanging Secret Santa presents.
“On Christmas Day our family always waits for everyone to wake up to open presents together and take turns opening presents,” Her said. “My favorite part is when my mom puts different amounts of money in a clear ball ornament and us siblings would do rock-paper-scissors to see who gets to pick first. On New Year’s Eve, my family will select a family member’s home to gather at for the countdown. We prepare food and other family members bring their own dish and share with the family. Usually, 10 minutes before the count down, we would gather in a circle and pray for the person on our right. On New Year’s Day, the family plays games and the winner gets prizes while the team that loses faces a hilarious penalty.”
For all the holidays, Her celebrates Jesus’ birthday at the church and invites all church family members to celebrate with them.
“We also spend time at the Administrative Church House for everyone to come and celebrate the New Year and pray for everything that may be going on now and whatever that might happen or will happen in the future for everyone to be safe and healthy,” Her said. “Life has changed so much and has been hard because families can’t spend time with other family members for the safety of others and especially families who have little babies. But the happy thing is we all can still call and facetime each other when one person misses another.”
Her’s favorite craft is decorating doors for all different months, seasons and holidays.
“When I first became one of Mr. Loose’s students and was promoted to captain and an assistant, I loved decorating his door and all of the other instructors would comment and love how I decorated the door. I made it representable of all students who are part of the Homeland Security trade with their name hanging on the decorated door to let my cadets know how much they mean to the trade class and how amazing our instructor is to us. I know that my decorations made everyone feel appreciated.”
The positive projects Her has participated in this year at Job Corps include competing in a gingerbread house competition with other Job Corps Centers.
“We wanted to connect with other centers and bring some holiday cheer to everyone with a friendly competition. It was really fun because the students who helped build the ginger bread houses had a great time and worked together as a team and did a great job in looking out for each other’s needs. Even though we didn’t win first, we won first place in our hearts and that is all what matters because we all worked as a team and put our ideas into creating and decorating our ginger bread houses and we had such a fun time together!”
Her said here is not much to do on Job Corps Center, but they can always spend time with their classmates who still remain on center and staff who sacrifice their time to come work and watch over them, protect them and make sure they are not alone.
“My hopes are for us to all love, respect, care, support, comfort and cherish every happy moment with those around us these holidays. Nothing else is important than family; those who look up to you and believe in you and accept you for who you are.”
Her said her one Christmas wish is for her family is to live a healthy and wealthy lifestyle and for the one she loves to stay strong, healthy and trust he is not alone because he has someone who cares about him.
The Flint/Genesee Job Corps Center serves youth ages 16-24. To reach the Flint/Genesee Job Corps Center, call (810) 553-4300.
