"Through YouthBuild, I was able to finish my high school diploma and complete my CNA Program. I am proud to create a better life for my family."

Marisol

Marisol was going through a difficult time in her life before she came across YouthBuild. “I had been working at a warehouse for a few years. I wasn’t getting good pay and I knew that if I stayed in that job, I wasn’t going to have a good future for myself and my kids.” Being a young mother of two, Marisol wanted to create more opportunities for herself and her family. She decided to apply to YouthBuild Lake County after hearing about it through her sister, who was a YouthBuild graduate. Marisol wanted to go into nursing and with the help of YouthBuild, she completed an internship with Elevate Care Waukegan. After YouthBuild she enrolled at State Career College where she just graduated from a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training program. She is now preparing to take the exam to obtain her CNA certification. She also recently accepted a job at Lake County Health Department, where she works in her field as a screener. “I think one of the main things that makes me happy is that I got my high school diploma and a few other certifications that can really help me move on in life. I don’t feel like I will be stuck in a job anymore. I have options available to me and I don’t have to depend on anyone anymore. I can do things for myself now,” Marisol said. “All I have to say is YouthBuild has a great staff and I appreciate every single one of them. They helped me out and made me a better person, and I will always be grateful for that.”