“YouthBuild Lake County changed me by making me realize that I am not alone in wanting to better my community.”
Jackie, Class of 2024
After stepping away from high school to care for her newborn daughter, Jackie joined YouthBuild Lake County to invest in herself and create stability for her family.
At YBLC, she earned her high school diploma and credentials including CPR, OSHA 10, and NCCER certifications. Hands-on training, career readiness support, and Work Experience helped her strengthen her communication and technical skills. As she explored her options, healthcare became the path she wanted to pursue.
A Career Exposure trip to City of Hope gave Jackie the opportunity to meet healthcare professionals and learn how they built their careers. YBLC’s Career Access team then supported her application to a competitive summer internship through Endeavor Health.
Jackie was accepted into the Sterile Processing Department at Highland Park Hospital. By the end of the internship, Endeavor Health offered her a permanent role. YBLC’s published account of her journey describes her subsequent work as a Surgical Technician, supporting medical teams during procedures.
Her connection to YouthBuild continued beyond that first opportunity. Jackie began volunteering on panels for future interns, including other YouthBuild participants, sharing her experience and helping them imagine their own next steps.
For Jackie, the care and community she experienced at YBLC became something she could carry into her work, her family, and the next generation of participants.
