Adult student a true success story
Despite adversity and naysayers who told him he’d never get a job, Chris Kaiser, 36, has become a true success story as a result of his training at Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center (ACWHCC). Born in Ashland, Kaiser attended Ashland High School, but dropped out before graduation and wandered to Florida. There he found work as a driller but the job didn’t last. After being laid off, he found his way back to his home state, where he worked at a variety of jobs and even tried his hand at running his own business. Though he tried hard, none of these jobs afforded him the steady income and security he craved.
Kaiser decided education was the key to his desire to better himself. Like many adults who have been away from school for a while, he was nervous and lacked confidence in his academic skills but he was determined. He enrolled in ACWHCC’s Adult Basic Literacy Education (ABLE) program and began taking classes, working toward his general equivalence diploma (GED). This was not an easy path, but he persevered and received his GED certificate, which enabled him to enroll in ACWHCC’s maintenance training classes. He found his niche in this adult education program as he earned certifications in AWS welding and forklift, and completed a 10-hour OSHA class plus 64 hours of externship experience at Brethren Care Village. With these positive things under his belt, plus good grades and attendance, both his skills and his self-confidence began to grow. He credits this newfound direction in his life to his ACWHCC instructor Jeff Jones and those in the adult education Transitions program who helped him improve his interpersonal skills.
Within three weeks of graduation from the maintenance training program, Kaiser landed a great job at a local manufacturer using the credentials he received through the adult education program. Now, with a good job and a new baby on the way, he is feeling more confident and more secure than ever before. His advice to others? He overcame obstacles and you can, too. Don’t be afraid to go back to school. In Kaiser’s words, “Go for it.”
ACWHCC is very proud of Kaiser and all the other students who have successfully completed adult education programs. The school continues to provide excellent services to those in the community who wish to further their education in hopes of improving their marketability. For more information on programs available and financial aid, call the ACWHCC adult education department at 419-289-3313 or log on to the school’s website at http://www.acwhcc.org and click on adult education.
Kaiser decided education was the key to his desire to better himself. Like many adults who have been away from school for a while, he was nervous and lacked confidence in his academic skills but he was determined. He enrolled in ACWHCC’s Adult Basic Literacy Education (ABLE) program and began taking classes, working toward his general equivalence diploma (GED). This was not an easy path, but he persevered and received his GED certificate, which enabled him to enroll in ACWHCC’s maintenance training classes. He found his niche in this adult education program as he earned certifications in AWS welding and forklift, and completed a 10-hour OSHA class plus 64 hours of externship experience at Brethren Care Village. With these positive things under his belt, plus good grades and attendance, both his skills and his self-confidence began to grow. He credits this newfound direction in his life to his ACWHCC instructor Jeff Jones and those in the adult education Transitions program who helped him improve his interpersonal skills.
Within three weeks of graduation from the maintenance training program, Kaiser landed a great job at a local manufacturer using the credentials he received through the adult education program. Now, with a good job and a new baby on the way, he is feeling more confident and more secure than ever before. His advice to others? He overcame obstacles and you can, too. Don’t be afraid to go back to school. In Kaiser’s words, “Go for it.”
ACWHCC is very proud of Kaiser and all the other students who have successfully completed adult education programs. The school continues to provide excellent services to those in the community who wish to further their education in hopes of improving their marketability. For more information on programs available and financial aid, call the ACWHCC adult education department at 419-289-3313 or log on to the school’s website at http://www.acwhcc.org and click on adult education.
Published: December 21, 2011
