Jennifer was raised in Smyth County, and has spent most of her life there. After high school, she discovered that she had a knack for working with people and ended up working at a bank. Despite consistently meeting her weekly sales quota, Jennifer found that her job barely left enough money to keep food on the table. As a young mom with a second child on the way, Jennifer knew that her current income was unsustainable. Worse than that, she felt unfulfilled at work.

After the birth of her son, Jennifer found herself in the hospital when he experienced some serious health issues. The compassionate nurses made her feel at ease during her time there and sparked an interest in Jennifer to work in the medical field. After enrolling in a local program, Jennifer was referred to People Incorporated’s Youth Workforce Development service.

The agency helped her with some of the expensive fees that were associated with her degree, easing her financial burden while she was taking classes. The program even helped with some extra costs, such as gas money for transportation. “If it wasn’t for People Incorporated, I couldn’t have done it,” said Jennifer.

As Jennifer was completing classes in the medical assisting program, People Incorporated set her up with a paid internship, which gave Jennifer clinical experience and supplemented her income. Soon, she graduated from the program and passed her licensure test.

But this was only the beginning. She applied for Licensed Practical Nursing school upon finishing and while working part-time at a doctor’s office. This time, Jennifer was able to use People Incorporated’s workforce program for TANF-eligible clients to attend budgeting and financial literacy classes and receive a low-interest car loan for the car she needed to get to work, to school, and back home again.

Jennifer turned to People Incorporated once again when she decided to pursue a Registered Nurse degree. After being accepted into an R.N. program, she got back in touch with her workforce development caseworker who helped her with the testing and uniform fees associated with the program. Not only did she receive the financial support she needed to enroll, but her caseworker was alongside her during the process, offering encouragement and help.

“The relationship went beyond normal mentor-mentee. It made it more personal that she actually cared,” said Jennifer.

Jennifer is now working as a school nurse for a local elementary school and feels deeply satisfied with her career. She’s also grateful for the extra time she can spend with her kids. Next year, Jennifer will graduate from the R.N. program and anticipates more doors of opportunity opening for her. As a single mom of two kids, her journey hasn’t been easy, but Jennifer is proud to set an example of hard work and determination for her kids. She hopes to continue to further her medical education in the future. “It does take some time,” said Jennifer. “But if you have a mission, the end result is well worth it. I’m forever thankful for People Incorporated.”