At 16 years old, Anella was pregnant and unable to attend school. Her aunt encouraged her to explore what opportunities Job Corps might provide, and she went for it. She had every quality it took to become a successful businesswoman; all she needed was an opportunity. Thankfully Job Corps was able to provide that.
Looking back, she recognizes how much her life and career path have been impacted by Job Corps. She studied Office Administration at the Edison Job Corps Center in New Jersey and obtained her high school diploma. Anella is now a superintendent of On Board Service in New York City for Amtrak. She attributes her success to Job Corps and the mentors who guided her along the way.
After graduating from Job Corps, Anella went on to attend the nine-month Advanced Training program for the Transportation Service Worker in Atlanta. She said that she “was never afraid of working” and was encouraged by Job Corps to continue her education after graduation.
“Job Corps gave me an idea of what the real world was like before I entered it. It allowed me to work with people of different backgrounds and broaden my horizons.”
Since then, Anella has gained the respect of her Amtrak co-workers. She has been recognized for her hard work and attributes much of her success to the opportunities she took advantage of that Job Corps put in front of her.
“Job Corps gave me an idea of what the real world was like before I entered it,” Anella said. “It allowed me to work with people of different backgrounds and broaden my horizons.”
Needless to say, Anella has become a big cheerleader for the program, and she strongly encourages young adults who think Job Corps could benefit them to go ahead and apply. That way, she says, they can learn more about all the potential opportunities and get a better understanding about what’s involved.
“Job Corps will provide you with contacts all over the country who will help you achieve whatever your heart desires”