8 June 2009

Robert first became interested in the health career programs at the Philadelphia Job Corps Life Science Institute (PJCLSI) after observing his family members in health careers.  His mother was a nurse for 25 years, and his sister is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).  

Before applying to the program, Robert said that he bounced around from job to job in security and hotel work.  He finally became tired of working at jobs where he was expendable, and applied to PJCLSI.  He says, "I wanted a career, not just a job."  His time at the Philadelphia Job Corps Life Science Institute was his first experience with Job Corps.  He was a student at the center for 17 months, and finished in December 2008. 

Robert says the biggest surprise about the program is the amount you learn.  He never thought he’d know so much about the human body.   The biggest obstacle he’s faced during the program is transferring what he’s learned in the classroom to his work in the community – he says there’s a huge difference between practicing on dummies and working with real-live people.

When he’s finished with the program, Robert will be certified as a Nursing Assistant and an EMT.  He hopes to become paramedic one day.  He prefers it to being a Nursing Assistant because he says he can do everything he’s learned in his classes more often as an EMT.  He’s looking forward to becoming a paramedic on a flight helicopter, but will have to take some flight classes.  Robert’s not sure where he’ll take those classes yet, but teachers at the Job Corps center will assist him with finding a flight program. 

His advice to students who are interested in Job Corps is “…just to do it, it’s fun, it’s rewarding.  It’s easier than you think and it will be worth your time.”