TENNESSEE – Young people who join Job Corps are often subjected to being labeled. However, every young person who enrolls has a unique story surrounding their pathway to the program and how Job Corps helped them arrive at a place where they could fulfil their life’s purpose.

Jacobs Creek Job Corps graduate L’Vester Harper knew his purpose when he arrived on-center in 2013 at the age of 17. He visualized a life working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, developmental disorders accompanied by varying severities of social, communication and behavioral problems. Harper’s road to this goal has been rocky—often of his own making—but Harper has achieved it. Jacobs Creek Teacher Kimberlie Peterson recently caught up with him for an on-camera interview and there’s no doubt that Harper has found his purpose.

Although gifted intellectually, in high school Harper was rebellious. He was failing classes because he did not bother to complete his homework. “I had plenty of counselors,” says Harper. “I’d tell them, ‘I know I’m smart so why do I have to do such-and-such?’” They would reply, “But your actions show you’re not smart.”

Harper’s mother decided he should go to Job Corps. She packed up the car and dropped Harper off at Jacobs Creek located in Bristol, Tennessee. “I did not want to go to the mountains,” says Harper. “I felt I was not supposed to be here.”

With that attitude, Harper got off to a predictably rough start. At the time, Jacobs Creek offered only a GED program—no high school diploma. Harper had made up his mind that a GED was not acceptable. He only left his dorm room to play basketball and he refused to attend his vocational training classes. “I was not a team player and I was extremely unpleasant,” says Harper.

Job Corps students are evaluated on a 60-point color card scale—green, then maroon or bronze, followed by silver and with gold at the top. Every student holds a green card for the first 30 days of enrollment. At his 30-day evaluation, Harper’s green card was revoked, and he was assigned a white card. His extra-curricular activities immediately coming to a halt and he was required to meet weekly with the center standards officer. “I thought I had had it bad before, but that was horrible. I couldn’t do anything,” says Harper.

An instructor sat down with Harper and advised him to play the game—“If you give a little bit, you get a little bit,” he was told. Harper listened to this advice and began religiously attending classes where older, more mature students took him under their wings.

“There were two older students I gravitated towards. I just remember their nicknames--Bama and Carter,” says Harper. “They were extremely intelligent and wise beyond their years. I watched how hard they worked in class. They really applied themselves, but they kept doing poorly on the GED test.” This was an eye-opening experience for Harper.  “I felt ungrateful. I am an amazing test-taker. I was unappreciative of my God-given intellect and wasting my talents when other students were working night and day to accomplish their goals.” Although he lost touch with Bamma, Harper knows that Carter did eventually earn his GED.

Around that same time, nearby Sullivan East High School initiated a program that would allow Jacobs Creek Job Corps students to earn their high school diploma on-line. “I went into the program head-first,” says Harper. “That was what I was there for. I did not take breaks, pal around, or go on weekend passes.” Harper quickly earned his diploma and a business administration certificate, but when he departed, it was a bittersweet moment.

When asked to reflect more on those feelings, Harper shares, “I have one regret and it’s that I could have taken more of a leadership role and helped my friends and classmates. I became focused on earning my diploma and I did not bring anyone along with me—I could have taken it upon myself to help some of my fellow students along the way.”

Harper’s education quest was not smooth sailing after he graduated. He relived some past errors during his college career. Wanting to play basketball, Harper enrolled at Savannah State University, a historically black college and university. He put basketball before academics and by his third semester, he had a grade point average of 0.7 and was placed on academic probation. With few financial resources and no longer eligible for financial aid, he had to leave school for three semesters.

“I had to pay out of pocket, and when I returned I could only take two classes per semester because that was all I could afford,” says Harper. “It’s a lesson I will never forget.” After cleaning up his act, Harper made the Dean’s List every remaining semester and, last year, graduated with a 3.4 GPA. He not only earned a bachelor’s degree in Behavior Analysis he also became fluent in Mandarin Chinese.

Harper is now a certified Registered Behavior Technician. RBTs can work with clients in home settings focusing on such skills as household chores and self-care. Others work in a school setting and focus on social skills or in a clinical environment where specific problem issues can be recreated and addressed. “Behavior Analysis is the study of behaviors and how behavior is affected by your environment,” says Harper. “I target a child’s problem behaviors by manipulating the environment to prompt the behavior I want.”

Harper is excited for the next phase of his life. Harper will begin a master’s degree program in Applied Behavior Analysis at Georgia State University next August. His long-term goal is to open his own practice in child phycology. He is also engaged to his girlfriend of six years and they are expecting their first child.

Job Corps’ slogan is “Careers Begin Here.” But like so many other graduates, Harper found not only a career but his life’s passion. “The structure of Jacobs Creek Job Corps was good for me. I lacked focus and motivation,” says Harper. “If you let it, Job Corps can really provide you with what you need to build your own character. It prepares you for your next step in life. I definitely needed Jacobs Creek Job Corps.”