Michaela

Michaela* was scrolling through her Facebook feed when an article about Intel workers caught her attention. It stood out because her husband, who had passed away the year before, had worked at Intel. Life without him was a shock, and Michaela had to quickly adjust to life as a single mother, especially since her immediate family lived on the East Coast.   

“I’ve never lost a parent, and being that they’re so young, I had to make sure that their mental health was okay, and even mine. I don’t think I would’ve been able to just go back to work. I was privileged to have that time off.”  

The article mentioned Fresh Start and its training program that readied women for careers in the semiconductor industry.   

“I was just reading about it, and it dawned on me that I needed to get back into the work field. I was off for a year, and I didn’t have a career, so I was trying to find somewhere to go that would help me, guide me to something I could do as a career.”  

While alive, her husband was the breadwinner for their family, which included three children aged 14, 8, and 6.   

“Temp jobs were comfortable for me because I was more of a stay-at-home mom. Any job I took was just temporary, just something to get out of the house. So, with him being gone, I became the breadwinner and I had to realize that I needed to do something. I can’t just take a temp job; I am the sole breadwinner now for my family.”  

After the article mentioned Fresh Start, her interest was piqued and she went to the organization’s website to browse the upcoming programs available. She applied to the upcoming Women in Finance program and attended a panel on Women in Construction at Fresh Start’s headquarters in downtown Phoenix.   

“The women that came for that panel made an impact on me because I’m really about advancement for all people, and knowing that not many women work in construction, it opened my eyes to the fact that these are doors that need to be opened.”  

Once the panel ended, Michaela immediately looked up where she could go to school for construction project management.   

“I’m an action-based person and will start classes in January 2025.”  

Until her construction courses began, Michaela followed through with her initial commitment to participate in the Women in Finance program in Fall 2024. She also enrolled in Fresh Start’s success coaching to help hold her accountable to her new goals amid such a big change in her life.   

“You tell your success coach about your goals, and they’ll come behind you and hold accountability. They’ll challenge you like, ‘Well, if this doesn’t happen, what are you going to do?’ and that’s what I really like because sometimes we get so excited thinking about things, we don’t think about the negative aspect of it and how we’re going to emotionally handle things if they don’t go our way.”  

When Michaela mentioned that she was serious about going to school for project management, her success coach checked her progress while registering for classes and applying for financial aid.   

“I was confused and lost when it came to my goals. Now, I see things more clearly. I have more plans. I’m super dedicated to where I’m going to go and have a career. I didn’t want a career because, to me, a career was just working in corporate…That sounded like shackles. But this program has opened my eyes that that does not have to be the case.”  

Another goal of Michaela’s was to resume her work with a licensed therapist.   

“I found the most amazing therapist through success coaching. Everything was falling into place, but the biggest factor was Fresh Start, which gave me something to look forward to. At one point in life, I was just floating. It gave me the structure, which was the class, and to know that I’m meeting with my success coach, I looked forward to ensuring that I completed those tasks or at least tried to complete them.”  

Through success coaching, Michaela also realized another long-term goal she’d like to accomplish after working as a construction professional for a few years.   

“All of my life, I’ve wanted to own a temp agency and help people because when I was younger, temp jobs helped me, but some jobs weren’t decent. If I can get through this construction (education), get some information, get to work, then maybe in 10 years, I can have a construction temp agency to help people.”  

Even though Michaela knew she didn’t want to pursue a career in the industry, the Women in Finance program still provided plenty of transferable knowledge and aided in reconstructing her self-worth.   

“It helped me gain confidence. It made me feel like I wasn’t alone in a situation where I was starting over. Everyone was starting over with me at different points in their lives… It put a light in me that I did not have before and in just seven weeks! You don’t really know how much your life can change.”  

The seven weeks of the program had a few curveballs for Michaela as she balanced going to school, working with her new therapist, and adjusting to single motherhood.   

“I was used to having someone there to help me, and I don’t have family here. So, I missed a few days with my kids sick and felt so bad. But that is an obstacle that, unfortunately, I have to live with now. I did my best and tried not to beat myself up about it.”  

Michaela was pleasantly surprised by how quickly she and her peers in the Women in Finance program, who all started as strangers, formed close bonds.  

“People were giving other people rides, lending clothes, and I just thought that was amazing because you don’t have to do that. You don’t have to care after you do your hours here. But we all cared about each other genuinely.”  

As the Women in Finance program neared its completion date, Michaela’s class brainstormed ways to stay in contact and keep tabs on each other on their individual journeys.   

“It was a sisterhood thing to me. I want them all to succeed and I want to keep watching their journeys. It’s funny because we’re all different ages and races, but it just goes to show that programs like this can bring all types of women and people together.”  

At one point, Michaela felt like a part of her was trying to get her old life back. She’s proud of applying for the program, coming to class, and not feeling any shame about starting over.  

“There’s no shame in it. As long as we’re alive, we can start over as many times as needed. And that’s what I’m proud of: starting over.”  

If she hadn’t come to Fresh Start, Michaela knew she wouldn’t have considered going back to school and would instead have ended up working a random 9-5 job to make ends meet.  

“That was the easiest thing to do. You don’t have to face yourself or challenges when you do things that are comfortable for you, so I am so happy that Fresh Start pulled me out of my comfort zone with the career services and therapy. Those things have helped me stand on my own.”  

As she continues her learning journey to attain her goals of working in project management in the construction industry, Michaela knows she can always turn to Fresh Start for support and that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. She hopes that her efforts to better herself, even in the most trying times of grief, set an example for her children that will last them a lifetime.  

“Your children see what you go through, and you have to be vigilant in letting them see that, even though we’re sad, even though we’re going through things. We still have to get up; we still have to go about our day, and we still can make it through. But you can make it through sad. You can make it through hurt. You can make it through even when you’re not in the best situations, you can still make it.”  

She hopes that other women looking for a lending hand find Fresh Start and make the jump to change their lives, even if they’re scared of the unknown.  

“I’m doing so much better. I can’t even describe it because when I came in, I was in the midst of still grieving, confused, and wondering if I was making the right decision. But now, I know I made the right decision. I knew that I needed to be here. I know that I didn’t just stumble upon this program after that Facebook article; everything has worked out to where it needed to be. I’m happy.”