Heather’s Story: How She Found Support, Education, and Opportunity in Goodwill’s YouthBuild Program
Heather’s Story: How She Found Support, Education, and Opportunity in Goodwill’s YouthBuild Program
By Heather P., YouthBuild Participant & Marketing Intern, Goodwill Omaha
In Goodwill Omaha’s YouthBuild AmeriCorps program, Heather has discovered she has multiple career path options. Here, she’s working in the YouthBuild workshop.
When I turned 18, I dropped out of high school to take care of my father as his primary caregiver. I am also the caregiver to my younger brother, who has autism and Asperger’s syndrome. I had terrible anxiety about school and teachers from my past experiences in high school, where a teacher told me I was a misfit and “not diploma material.” That drove me into a dark depression and affected my attitude negatively. I thought to myself, if my teacher doesn’t think I am good enough and doesn’t care, then why should I care about myself? So, I started skipping school and making bad decisions.