“I feel like I discovered my purpose. Out of high school, my purpose was small-minded…but now, my purpose is that I’m my own person, independent…the sky is the limit.”
At 20 years old, Aliyah* wasn’t sure she had much of a future to look forward to. High school had been hard, especially emotionally, and she dealt with depression and mental health struggles. She convinced herself she wasn’t smart enough for higher education, so she stayed where it felt safe, working at a fast-food restaurant to make ends meet.
One day, Aliyah’s mom brought her to Fresh Start’s campus in downtown Phoenix to explore resources and research upcoming programs. She wasn’t sure what she was looking for, but the Semiconductor Manufacturing program caught her eye.
“After I got back in the car, I saw Jessica’s* success story on [Fresh Start’s] website and what she did and how she improved in the programs at Fresh Start,” Aliyah said. “It inspired me. Then when I was later accepted into the semiconductor program, I was happy…and really excited.”
On the first day of the program, Aliyah recalled her mom smiling at her while they sat in the car. Aliyah was shocked that after having trouble in high school, she herself was returning to a learning environment. But the real shock came when she walked into Fresh Start.
“I walked into Fresh Start and gave my name. Then my mom walked in behind me and said, ‘I’m doing the program with you!’ I was shocked and excited,” Aliyah reflected. “I thought ‘This is crazy! I’m doing [the program] with my mom!’”
Aliyah embarked on a unique experience that many mother-daughter duos might not experience: sharing a classroom together. Aliyah found herself watching her mom raise her hand, answer questions, engage with the material, and something shifted in how she saw her.
“I was observing her and the way she interacted and thought, ‘Wow, that’s my mom.’ It really made me look at her in a different light. It’s everyone’s first time living and this is a new experience for my mom too.”
It clicked for Aliyah that her mom was more than how she’s always known her as “mom.” She was an empowered woman who had been through a lot and was still choosing to grow.
High school taught Aliyah to keep her guard up around other women. The social landscape had been unkind, competitive, and lonely. She didn’t know it could be any different, until Fresh Start.
Guest speakers shared stories of starting out shy and scared before building businesses, launching careers, and breaking barriers. The culture of the classroom honored and exuded real sisterhood.
“I learned more about womanhood. In high school, girls can be mean, but…the program helped expand my mind and open my eyes to what mature women look like.”
Before the program, Aliyah felt timid and scared. She didn’t know what to do with her life and didn’t consider much for herself. The confidence she gained from Fresh Start’s community helped her become open-minded and dared to set goals.
“This program made me focus on me. I was thinking my purpose was just to help people and not move up in life because I’m listening to their problems. So doing this program is for me. It’s something for myself.”
The program wasn’t always easy. There were days when the old voice crept back in telling her she wasn’t smart enough, that this wasn’t for her.
But Fresh Start gave her a different set of tools to reach for: consistency, goal setting and the knowledge that it’s okay to fill your own cup before helping others.
“Even if I thought that I couldn’t do it or didn’t feel like it, I got up and did it. They’re giving me an opportunity to succeed and I’m not going to sleep on it. I need this.”
Months ago, Aliyah didn’t know she could even dream about working in the semiconductor industry. Today, she’s hired as a Semiconductor Production Associate at NXP, a global semiconductor company, via Randstad.
“I feel like I discovered my purpose. Out of high school, my purpose was small-minded…but now, my purpose is that I’m my own person, independent…the sky is the limit.”
Aliyah’s next goal is to complete her electromechanical technologies exam so she can receive a raise and keep growing.
Want to learn more about Aliyah’s mother, Katrina*? You can read her Success Story on our website here.