Goodwill Program:  Hospitality Training 

“The day I discovered Goodwill’s employment and job training programs my life began to change.”

Sonja spent nineteen years as a homemaker, raising three children. When her husband left, she needed to find a job to support her family. Sonja felt there was no hope in finding a new life for herself and became depressed.  She was not a high school graduate and could not work at a job that demanded heavy exertion. “This was my lowest point.  I just couldn’t see God’s plan for me,” Sonja said.

Finally, Sonja forced herself to get dressed and go over to her neighborhood library to check the internet for help. “That day I discovered Goodwill’s employment and job training programs,” Sonja said, “and my life began to change.”

Within days Sonja had met with a Goodwill career development specialist at the Job Connection. When she learned of Goodwill’s Hospitality Training Program, she was interested, and encouraged to apply. Sonja passed her entrance exam and sailed through the selection interview. But that was only the beginning.  

Sonja had butterflies in her stomach the first week of class. It had been over 20 years since Sonja had been in school. Since high school, she had discovered that she had ADHD and feared that she would not be able to concentrate. Others in the class already knew something about the hospitality industry.  However, Sonja also brought life experience to the class – 19 years as a mother, homemaker and a tireless volunteer at her children’s schools, the church, YMCA, and she had twice served as president of her neighborhood residents’ association.    

“The coursework was challenging, but Ms. Jamal, my instructor, was always available to answer questions and encourage me.”

Sonja also drew strength from her fellow classmates who quickly became a close knit team.  “No one was stronger than the other, we all needed each other to succeed,” Sonja recalls.

During her six-week course, Sonja dealt with the deaths of loved ones and dental surgery, but still she prevailed, giving a great deal of credit to the caring of her classmates and teacher.

When the members of Goodwill’s Hospitality class were asked to select their representative to speak at graduation, Sonja was their choice. 

On Friday, August 11, 2006, Sonja stood proud at the podium as she expressed her thanks to God, Goodwill, and her classmates for their support.

Sonja says that this graduation is only the first.  In the fall, she plans to attend CPCC to obtain her GED, while using her hospitality training to work at the front desk of a hotel in the evening.  “And after I get my GED, I want to keep going and going with my education,” Sonja said.   “This is just the beginning.”