“Ever since I finished the course, I’m so excited to see what’s next… It feels so good. I can’t wait to move forward and grow. I can’t wait to have that impact and make that change.”
When you’re driving down the road, billboards capture your attention for a passing moment and, at the most, make a head turn in amusement or provide a laugh. It’s not every day that a billboard changes a life.
For Imelda*, such an unlikely statement came true after a billboard led her to Fresh Start Women’s Foundation.
She was driving on the freeway in Phoenix and saw a billboard highlighting Fresh Start’s semiconductor technician training program. She was immediately inspired.
“I thought that was so cool and wanted to know more. I reached out through email and went online and looked it up to research it and inquire more.”
Imelda got in touch with Fresh Start and learned that the upcoming semiconductor course was already full, so she asked which program she could do instead. Every decision she made, Fresh Start was there to offer support.
“(Fresh Start team member) Trey explained everything thoroughly and said, ‘Is there anything that you need from me?’ He always made sure to say that… That was nice. It made me feel like I could count on someone knowing that they’re a phone call away. You don’t get that often from people.”
She discussed all her options with Fresh Start and decided to apply to the Cable Harness Wiring program, knowing that when the course started she would be recovering from a necessary foot surgery.
“It was hard for me to make the decision, but I really wanted to do it… I was worried about my surgery because the course was going to start five days after it. I thought, ‘How am I going to work this out?”
As a single mom of five adult children, Imelda was used to juggling a heavy weight of responsibility on her own.
“Ever since my kids were little, I had it all on my plate: paying the bills, doing housework. People don’t realize how much effort it all takes. It’s always been a tough road for me. I work so hard, but I wasn’t getting anywhere.”
When she saw the billboard, something clicked for Imelda, and she knew it was time to put herself first.
“I felt like I needed to take care of me and what interested me, not just putting everyone else before me. I wanted that change to embark on a new avenue and feel successful.”
After her foot surgery, one of Imelda’s daughters drove her to the cable harness course. She recalled that the first week was all lectures, but the content was overwhelming.
“We used our books and the first day we reviewed our syllabus, and I was like, ‘What did I get myself into?’ It was all so foreign. I’d never seen the terminology.”
Imelda took lots of notes and when she got home from class, she continued to pour over the coursework again and again. She recalled how unusual it felt to be back in the classroom after over two decades and the intense focus required to wrap her mind around new concepts.
“I’ve missed taking classes, I haven’t been able to since 2002. I was pumped to go every day. It felt really good.”
In the first week, Imelda also made strong connections with her peers in the classroom. When doubt crept into Imelda’s mind, she looked at the women around her for motivation and thought: “If they can do it, I can do it.
“They were all so helpful and even after the first day we met they were ready to exchange numbers so we could keep in contact. We really leaned on each other.”
During the second week, the coursework became much more hands-on, and they finally put the lectures from week one into practice.
“That was the best experience ever because everyone was working together. If we didn’t understand something the first time, our instructor would go over it again. Everyone was pumped about being able to use the tools and we each brought something to the table.”
Imelda was challenged again as the course wound down and the test loomed ahead.
She didn’t pass the test the first time, so she refocused on studying again to hopefully ace it on the last day of class.
“I became a book nerd: printing presentations, highlighting everything. I took notes and read everything. I’m not going to let this test beat me. I’m going to do this. I had to change my mindset and not let the first fail affect me.”
She was determined not to let the opportunity pass her by. She even formed a small study group with the women in her class to ensure she did everything she could to pass the test.
Imelda passed the test on the last day of class and realized her goal in coming to Fresh Start: she expanded her knowledge.
“I am a firm believer that we learn something new every day. I want to be a lifelong learner… I’m at the point in my life where I want to continue to grow and make progress. There’s always room for growth and if you don’t have the mindset, you forget.”
As the only role model for her children, she’s proudly led by example and showed them that it’s never too late to start fresh.
“Ever since I finished the course, I’m so excited to see what’s next… It feels so good. I can’t wait to move forward and grow. I can’t wait to have that impact and make that change.”
After the course concluded, Imelda attended a career fair at Fresh Start, something she’d only done once in her life. She took the initiative to go to each company’s booth and speak with everyone to see what they had to offer.
“I asked them questions and I got to do a one-on-one interview with Kelly Services and at the end of the interview he said keep an eye out for an email. Then I looked the next morning and there was an email!”
Imelda thanked Fresh Start for helping her in a low point in her life when her self-esteem suffered, especially during the recovery from her surgery.
“Going to class helped me, and not only did it help me with the educational part, but it kept me busy, so I didn’t have to be bedridden…I have something to look forward to everyday. Each time I wake up, I’m like, ‘I’m doing something different now. This is something that I thought I could never do.’ It doesn’t stop here.”
After completing Fresh Start’s cable harness program and passing the certification test, Imelda was hired by Kelly Services as an Intel Placement.