COLORADO—“Schenck Job Corps transformed me,” says 2020 Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center automotive graduate Justin Speight. “It is where I learned to love myself and I made new friends along the way.”

Speight has a twin brother, and his large, extended family is exceptionally close. “We’re family oriented, and it’s a blessing to have them.” Still, he had a few youthful indiscretions. He would recommend Job Corps to any young person wanting a change.

“The people I meet at Schenck were good people wanting to change but who were caught up in bad environments. The hardest thing about being an adult is no matter what you do you will always be held responsible for your actions—especially if you’re doing wrong,” Speight reflects. “Job Corps was a game changer for me. Yeah, there were problems along the way. Nothing’s perfect. It taught me to never be afraid to get out of my comfort zone. I was too comfortable.”

Speight discovered Job Corps through a family member. He wanted to escape from a series of low-paying jobs. He selected Schenck for its automotive trade and the simple fact that he had never before lived in the mountains. Upon arrival on-center in May 2019, he signed up for leadership classes, joined the men’s basketball team and became an officer in the residential living program. He also held a part-time job throughout his stay.

After graduation, Speight accepted a job as a lube technician apprentice with Hubert Vester Toyota. Ryan Lippert, his Hubert Vester Toyota supervisor, speaks glowingly of Speight’s work ethic and desire to learn. “Justin has proven his dedication to further his career in Automotive Technology at Toyota. Despite rigorous in-house training, he has remained steadfast in his endeavors to obtain certifications to grow his career and retain employment at Toyota.”

This work ethic quickly garnered Speight a $3 per hour bump in pay when he was promoted to maintenance technician within his first year. This is no surprise to his former instructor, Blue Ridge Community College automotive instructor Erica Vandermore. “Justin was an exceptional student while at Schenck. What made this young man so exceptional was his dogged determination to succeed.” Speight’s next career goal is to earn a promotion to line technician. That job involves bigger jobs, like removing transmissions.

Speight said his future plans includes owning his own home, continuing to make positive choices and making his parents proud. One day, he would like to own his own automotive business.

Speight is a prime example of the benefits of a Job Corps education. By taking advantage of all this Forest Service Job Corps center offered, he has set out on a lifelong career.