After leaving her previous job due to some health issues, Lex’s parents divorced, making a hard situation even more challenging. Lex was aware that she needed to find new employment but worried that her anxiety would prevent her from succeeding in the workplace.

“I have a difficult time in jobs,” Lex says. “I get overwhelmed really easily.”

Nevertheless, Lex overcame her concerns and got a job working as an associate at Deseret Industries. She appreciates the job training aspect of DI and recognizes how it has helped her prepare for future employment opportunities.

“It’s [the best] working environment I have ever been in,” Lex says. “They made me a team lead a few months after I started here, and now I have that on my resume. They have helped me to get actual skills.”

Perhaps even more important to Lex, DI has been flexible and understanding as she navigates life with her chronic condition. Thanks to this, Lex feels valued as an employee and has established positive relationships with her co-workers.

“I had a job coach who became my best friend,” Lex says. “She helped me to feel a lot better after the really bad job experiences I had in 2020. She massively boosted my self-esteem.”

Lex also mentioned a notable experience she had with another DI employee.

“I got a flat in the middle of the road, and I didn't know how to put on my spare tire,” Lex says. “My job coach drove out to where my car was and put the spare on. That was so nice.”

While she has been at DI, Lex has been working on a bachelor’s degree in creative fiction writing. She is in her junior year and is looking forward to what the future holds.

“I plan to get my teaching certificate after I have my bachelor’s degree,” Lex says. “I like to teach—my first job was teaching piano.”