JobCorps
 

I don't know anyone personally who was involved with it, but I have heard good things about it. It is something I would definitely look into for your son. It may be a really good match for his situation. Good luck!

My honest opinion....Have The Boy file for an appeal. Often times they can get one chance with financial aid.

Although JobCorps can be a great place for some kids, it is mostly a place for troubled kids to get back on track. My son went there by choice (we had no idea) to get his GED and is now a brick mason, doing well. His opinion, along with several others I have heard, is that there was a lot of fighting, some drugs, drinking...he said he just kept to himself, and he graduated early.

Edited to add: High School Diploma at 16?? He seems to be way ahead of the game really :-) If school isn't for him, get him to working. At this age, he could be management material in a couple years...even if he starts small. Also, volunteer work could lead to bigger and better things...If he pays back financial aid, he can go back to school when he is ready. So many options at this age...

((((Pajara))))) :rrose::rrose::rrose::rrose::rrose::rrose:

When I worked with a place called "The Village" in Long Beach as a job coach and placement specialist, I placed several people with the job corps...it is actually a really good program for young persons...especially those with out a sense of direction.

Those needing to learn a more disciplined way to live their lives also benefit a great deal; the added bonus of helping in the community brings pride and changes in self confidence (in my experience) as well.

It may not be about finding a new career, as much as it is about finding yourself and building skills.

Best of luck!

i'm so sorry to hear he's struggling! i don't know too much about jobcorps but just wanted to drop off hugs and love for you and the boy.

also, i wanted to second the idea of getting a job to pay back the financial aid and going back to school...my partner had to take some time off because of lack of money and loan screwups (he was dealing with a medical crisis at the time and fucked up a bunch of paperwork), but he was able to save up the money and pay back the loans to be able to enroll again.

i'm sure whatever he does will work out okay. thinking of you both. <3

A newbee here, just joined.
I used to work at a job corps for 3 years. pajara- do you have any specific questions?

Good morning A.
I must have missed this thread... sorry...
I attended JobCorps (many years ago). And did obtain my GED.. was working for my trade but illness forced me to resign. Yes, they actually do teach and if the person is interested in learning, the mentors will take them under their wing and flood them with learning and life skills. (My experience) .. I have much to share ... good and bad... and can also reference which facilities to avoid. JobCorps was a stepping stone for me... that initially gave me culture shock in many forms but in all, I turned it into a positive experience and have moved up the ladder ever since.
I will say... many years ago, several facilities were charged with ignoring hazing events.

I must rush off to work... would like to help... PM if u wish .....I'll never forget my time there. The harshness or the positive...

Sweet is correct. They do teach very good trades and skills. Every student has a mentor to always talk to. There are lots of rules to follow. Culture shock is also correct. Your son will need to stay away from other students that are trouble-makers (guilt by association as well as hanging with the wrong crowd).
If he is serious about learning and sticks to his goal(s) of completion AND stays away from bad asses he should be fine!
Employers as anywhere seek good empolyees- Job Corps teaches very good trades and if your son needs GED/HS Diploma, usually employers don't care where the diploma came from.
Does your son need those and does he have a particular area to learn a trade?
Your baby should be safe depending on which one he attends. Unfortunately I think the larger JC's with over 500 students may not have the 'personal touch' that a smaller JC would. Also I would stay away from JC's that are in a city??
Also JC's are rated 1- 123, check the rating of those JC's your looking at. I worked at one that was #5 at one point to 23.
Hope this helps, let me know if need more.
Suggestion: don't be afraid to ask the staff questions-before, during his stay.

Good luck,
Hansome

Yet another thread I did not see. Did your son decide to join? I was in Job Corp many years ago, back in the 70s. I already had my HS diploma but I was poor and trying to figure out a way to grow up and move out of my mom's house. The military had been my first plan but because of an orthopedic injury as a teen, that was not possible.

It was a culture shock, even for me. I had not been in trouble ever, but I did do the teenage thing of drinking and light drugging. Back in those days, all of the butches were put in one specfic dorm and forced to attend "charm classes." I got out of charm school because of an orthopedic condition I have. I was lucky, the charm class was at the top of the stairs on the third floor. I did attend a couple of times and for me it was humiliating.

I became very interested in a program they offered to help a few of us bridge into college. It did not pan out for me because at one point they rounded up all of the butches and suspected butches and discharged us. I was given an "honorable discharge" but none the less, out.

I know for a fact it was homophobia. My counselor at the time gave me the real story as to what was happening. She was in the closet at the time in terms of her bisexuality. Later in life I ran into her again and she was a Professor at Univeristy of New Mexico in Albuquerque, and a very out Lesbian. Yeah team!

Back to your son. Job Corp can work out for him if he stays focused and stays away from the young people that are there to only play and get a break away from whatever situation they left.

Parja,I am the voice of experence because I have been in your sons shoes.I just didnt buckle down and be accountable about grades and my future when I was his age.After many years of doing it "MY way" and makeing some successes of it but not to the point it was feasable to contenue my path I wised up and went to techanal school insted of job corps.My reason was there were to many people in this program who were headed for a dead end job and that wasnt my road to take.Also I got much more job training and hands on experence than I would have othe wise.

I think you probably made the right choice for you back in those days. I do believe it has gotten better in terms of career training. Again, the young person needs emotional support and to stay clear of the "extra curricular" activities.

Another piece of history, When I was in Job Corp, most butches, at least the obvious ones were directed toward careers that were of the labor nature. At least on the campus where I was. I was directed into electronics (way before computers and internet). I had to do a lot of talking and shoving my test scores in front of them to be placed in the "Upward Bound" (headed for college) program.

Greyson
 

Back when I went through the job corp just about every student was headed for a life of crime or,we didnt really have an emotional system to handle life's complexities.My gramps had passed and grannie was in the first stages of mental decline,mom worked all the time plus I always had a prob with a family issue since birth as my birth mother was the family trouble maker in the worst way so the sins of the parrents became mine in the eyes of most of the family.SO with out my grand parrents to keep the bs in check I became an absolute angry,pissed off kid.I really dont know how I didnt end up doing time or not liveing to grow up.I'm luckier than most I wokeup and saw the path I was on wasnt a good oneso being in an inviorment with more possitive out look definatly helped but took time because I had to lern to ajust my attitude big time.

Rockin, funny how life can spin and turn out. Be proud. You done good and I am sure your son is proud of you and loves you much.

Ty Geryson,sometimes I need ro stop and realise that I made it inspite of it
all.