“I hope that others are listening to my story and know that there are always people there to help you. Not only help you, but also encourage you to improve your life. There will always be obstacles, but you’re the only one who can get through them.”
Jennifer*, a young mom of two under the age of five, trekked to her job at an international fast-food chain and wondered how she could get out of this position, and into a sustainable career. She first took the job as a favor to her mom, who was one of the managers, but the favor that was supposed to last one month ended up lasting a whole year.
“I was sick of going to my job…One of the bosses wanted me to do more work but said he wouldn’t pay me more, so I needed a way out. You can’t get out if you don’t have anywhere else to go.”
Looking for a solution, Jennifer googled how to get a job and start a career. When nothing stood out to her, she went to Facebook and that’s when she found Fresh Start. She quickly did a connect session with a Fresh Start Client Engagement Specialist to learn about the resources available and upcoming classes when the semiconductor technician program caught her attention.
“Before you apply to a career training program at Fresh Start, you go through a presentation for each one. After I looked through those presentations, I decided to apply to the semiconductor technician program.”
On her first day of the program, she learned she was the youngest of the group, a fact that comforted her as the other women took her under their wing.
“I got to reach out to the other women in the group, and they gave me advice on the course and going back to school, but also on life in general. I really appreciated that.”
The connection she felt with her peers came in handy during the first few days of class when she questioned her ability to learn the material and contemplated quitting. As the deadline to drop the class approached, Jennifer still wondered what to do.
“I talked to a lot of the other women in the class, and they said they were all going to go forward, so I said, ‘Okay, I’ll come with you guys.’ So, I stuck with them.”
Jennifer continued the program, secure in her newfound sisterhood. With their support, no challenge felt insurmountable, even when one of her cars broke down and her household had to share one car. Despite her initial fear of not understanding or even liking semiconductor manufacturing, Jennifer surprised herself.
“When we got to the lab part of the class, I enjoyed that, so I didn’t want to stop going.”
Excited by the material she was learning in class, Jennifer set the goal of passing each of her quizzes with 100 percent.
“And I did that. I wanted to pass my final with 100 percent, and I did that. It was something that I was striving for during the actual course to stay on top of everything.”
Jennifer did so well in the program that she finished with an overall score of 99.7 percent. Her time in class and studying at home while caring for her two-year-old and four-year-old kids paid off!
“I feel like my definition of success didn’t change; it’s advancing…Before the class, I didn’t have a certificate, and now I do, which opens the doors to more opportunities in the job world.”
Now, Jennifer finally allowed herself to dream about the careers her certificate would help her attain, and what a larger income and sustainable career would mean for her family’s future. She dreamed of buying a home and setting a positive example for her children.
“When they grow up, I want to be in a career where they can say, ‘Oh look, she’s successful doing this.’ Not, ‘Oh, she’s still working at a fast-food restaurant.”
While she attained her certificate, Fresh Start helped Jennifer and her peers with resume building and editing, mock interviews, and the creation of LinkedIn profiles.
“I didn’t know what LinkedIn was before, but I’ve actually gotten connected with more people on there, even women that did the program before me.”
Jennifer exemplified how quickly life can take a positive turn. Before the two-week semiconductor program, she lacked a clear career direction, felt apprehensive about returning to school, and had limited semiconductor industry knowledge.
“I didn’t really know anything about the tools and now I know how to work with them. If somebody asked me, I would know the names of tools even more than my husband now. I feel more confident talking about semiconductor manufacturing. Before, if people asked me, I would say, ‘Let me look it up, and I’ll tell you what it is,’ but now I can explain to people what I’m doing.”
Jennifer’s confidence skyrocketed with a refreshed resume, interview skills, and industry knowledge.
“I do like the semiconductor field. I was stressed out a lot during the two weeks of the course, but now that I’ve finished it, I realized I felt stressed out for nothing because I did really well. I’m proud of myself. Now that I have finished this program, maybe the next one won’t be as stressful.”
She hopes that other women looking to improve their lives, careers, or financial situations don’t hold back on their dreams even though trying something new is nerve-wracking.
“Before I started at Fresh Start, I felt like I was just there. I wasn’t going anywhere. I was stuck in that same mindset of waking up, going to work, coming home, and doing the same thing over and over again, but I was never really growing as a person. I feel like now that I did the whole program, I feel like I’m able to actually go out there and find something better.”
Jennifer continues her semiconductor technician education and was hired as an apprentice with TSMC Arizona, a semiconductor fabrication facility that will be the most advanced on U.S. soil when completed. She is also continuing her journey with Fresh Start, actively working toward her financial goals with the support of our Financial Empowerment Specialists and workshops.
Jennifer provided us with an update after her first week in her new role, and we are excited to see what her future holds!
“Week one at TSMC is underway, and I’m thrilled to be a part of this incredible group. I’m so grateful to everyone who helped make this opportunity possible. A special thank you to Fresh Start, the City of Phoenix, and TSMC for their support and partnership.”