YouthBuild Lake County / Success stories
Jacqueline
A diploma, a new direction, and a world of possibility.
Jacqueline first learned about YouthBuild Lake County when she accompanied her best friend to an interview. She needed a way to finish high school, but the program would also help her develop the discipline and perseverance she would bring to military service.
Turning effort into a diploma
At YouthBuild, consistent encouragement from staff helped Jacqueline approach school with a different mindset. She applied herself and combined new coursework with credits from high school to earn her diploma.
After graduating with the Class of 2021, she chose to enlist in the U.S. Navy. The habits she developed at YouthBuild helped prepare her for the expectations of military service.
“The way I was before YouthBuild would not have worked in the Navy.”
Jacqueline
Seeing a bigger world
Serving aboard an aircraft carrier took Jacqueline beyond Waukegan to places including Canada, England, and the Mediterranean. In October 2023, she earned a promotion to E-4, Petty Officer Third Class.
“The Navy is letting me see so much more than I could have ever imagined.”
Jacqueline
Looking back on her progress, Jacqueline described a stronger sense of stability and possibility. Earning her diploma was the first step toward a career, new experiences, and greater confidence in her future.
“But now I am doing good financially. I am doing good mentally. I get to see cool places. I am happy.”
Jacqueline
The Bigger Picture
Education opens possibilities.
Opportunity helps them grow.
Every young adult deserves a way forward. For some, that starts with a diploma. For others, it means gaining experience, continuing their education, and finding people who help them take the next step.
Young adults in Lake County, Illinois
1in 8
were estimated to be neither
in school nor employed
Ages 16 to 24. The county’s 2024 study estimated 11,684 young adults, or 12.07%, as of December 2022.
A diploma can open more doors.
U.S. median weekly earnings by education, 2025
Full-time wage and salary workers age 25 and older. National earnings patterns are not a guarantee of individual pay.
Sources: Lake County youth-disconnection study, June 2024 (2022 estimate); BLS Education Pays, 2025. BLS annual earnings figures use 11 months of data; October was not collected.
Help the next story begin.
Jacqueline’s journey shows what opportunity can make possible. Your support helps more young adults build a foundation through education, career training, and real work experience at YouthBuild Lake County.
