Before Deseret Industries, I pretty much thought my life was over. I had called it quits on high school and I was doing things that I knew were wrong. I sincerely believed that none of the things I had always wanted to do were ever going to happen, such as graduate from high school, go to college, and become a teacher. When I went to find a job, I was willing to settle for anything, but no one would hire me because I didn't have work experience. I gave up for a while and stayed at home doing nothing. I never felt so low. It was the lowest point in my life.

After months of doing nothing, I decided that something needed to change in my life. My older friends, who had made similar choices as mine, were going nowhere. I knew I didn't want to end up like them. I asked my mother for help in finding a job, so she met with my bishop to find out about the training programs offered through Deseret Industries. After meeting with my bishop and the development specialist at DI, I was ready to start work.

I had mixed emotions the first day. My older sister also started on the same day, but she only lasted four hours. I have been with DI for over a year now and currently serve as lead for cashiers. During this time I have earned my GED, obtained my driver’s license, and completed a business partnership as a teacher’s aide. I am progressing and am able to complete goals that I never thought were possible. Soon I will take the ACT test and apply for college.

Working for Deseret Industries is so much more than a job. The DI training program has done more for me than I ever expected. I have been lifted to a future filled with possibility.