I came to the United States from the Marshall Islands. Finding work and becoming acclimated to a new way of life was hard because of the fast paced lifestyle I wasn’t quite use to.

My bishop recommended that I pursue additional training and work experience at Deseret Industries. Soon after, I met with the development specialist and job coach trainer at Deseret Industries. They were so welcoming and supportive and gave me so much encouragement that I knew I could do anything.

My career goal was to work in a warehouse or with construction. I received training and certification to drive a forklift so I could have more marketable skills for a warehouse position. My job coach trainer helped unload donation bins and organize as-is goods. I quickly felt part of the team with my newly developed skills from the DI.

As I gained skills and learned about what kind of a career I wanted, my job coach trainer helped me find a business partnership. The partnership allowed me to stay employed by Deseret Industries, but work for another company doing similar jobs. After a few months of on-the-job experience, the company hired me full time loading and unloading trucks full of clothes.

I am grateful to DI for giving me a start and helping me find a job with a company where I can grow and develop my skills. I was able to gain so much more than just training at the DI. I was able to become self-reliant as I found a way to provide for my family. I have a bright future in front of me now and that is priceless.