Adrian had dropped out of high school and was looking for an opportunity before he came to YouthBuild. “If I had gone back to my high school, it would have taken me three more years to earn my diploma. I knew I needed a better option and that’s when my counselor told me about YouthBuild. I wasn’t working at the time, so I figured I might as well try it out.” During his time at YouthBuild, Adrian earned his high school diploma as well as four industry recognized credentials. “YouthBuild taught me things that I could apply to the real world that my high school never did. They showed me how to build my resume and helped me practice interviewing.” Adrian always had an interest in mechanics and decided to pursue automotive, a YouthBuild career pathway. “A staff member called me one day and let me know there was an opportunity for me to interview at a local auto body shop. I already had my resume and I felt prepared to interview because I had gone through a few rounds of mock interviews at YouthBuild.“ Adrian was hired and started working at Adam’s Auto Body Shop, a YouthBuild employer partner. He was there for only two weeks when they were forced to shut down due to the pandemic. “I got a call back later on from Adam, the owner. He wanted me to come back and work full-time for them as a detailer.” Adrian has been with Adam’s Auto Body Shop for over a year and a half and has since been promoted to a full-time mechanic. “Right now, I am focused on saving money for a house. Without YouthBuild, I don’t know where I would be. I knew I needed to work towards getting my diploma, and now I have a career that will allow me to grow and achieve my goals.”