After the pandemic lockdowns, Lisette found herself having a hard time. Finances were tight, and she – like many others – had difficulty focusing. Finishing high school seemed impossible.
But a friend suggested she apply to Goddard’s Learning to Work Program at Edward A. Reynolds High School, and she transferred there in 2023.
The Learning to Work program supports students to reengage with school, overcome barriers to attendance, and stay on track to get their diplomas. It helps them develop a concrete plan for work or further study after graduating. It also offers paid internships to help them build their resumes and establish good work habits. Their mission is to ensure that no one falls through the cracks, and everyone reaches their maximum potential.
While at Edward A. Reynolds High School, she experienced a much more welcoming and supportive environment than at her previous school. Staff encouraged her, made sure she understood the importance of finishing school, and advocated for her whenever necessary.
Lisette was also grateful that she could still earn while completing her studies. Her internship was at a floral boutique. There she made arrangements for celebrities and galas. She found being able to work while in school to be motivating.
“If it weren’t for the program, I wouldn’t have had the motivation to continue studies,” she says.
Lisette graduated this year and is continuing to work full-time at the business she interned at while she waits to start college in the spring semester.