I never thought a courthouse would be the place where my life would start changing.
I had caught a DUI, and I was fighting it at the Bridgeview courthouse. At the time, I was a truck driver. Because of the DUI, I knew I might get into problems with my license, and I wouldn’t be able to work. So I was already thinking about what else I could do. That’s when I saw a man outside passing out flyers about future job opportunities — carpentry, electrician work, and welding. I took one. Welding and carpentry caught my attention, especially welding. I needed to start some other kind of career. Looking back, that was the beginning of something different.
When I joined CPO Outreach Career Center, I came because I needed job training. In the program, I learned how to do framing, how to take measurements, how to read the lines on a tape measure, and how to use tools properly like a hammer and a table saw. We built what looked like a small shed structure. I had seen framing in videos before, but I had never actually done it by hand. Doing it myself was pretty cool. We also did a lot of math and reading. That helped me more than I expected.
While I was in the program, I applied to the ironworkers’ union. I took their aptitude test and physical test, and I made it onto the waiting list. I also applied to the pipe fitters and took their test. I scored an 87. The math we practiced in class really helped. Multiplying fractions, dividing, adding, and working with decimals — that refreshed my memory. The reading helped too. The union tests had things like reading comprehension, mechanical questions about gears turning, and folding paper with holes punched through it.
Right now, I’m on the waiting list for the iron workers, waiting to be called.
I didn’t join the program because of the Bible study — I had no idea that was even part of it. I came for the career training. But the first 30 minutes of every class, we would talk about the Bible. The instructor would teach and give us information about God and Jesus. At that time in my life, I was being called by the Lord. I describe myself as a spiritual baby because I don’t know much. But I really enjoyed that time. I would go to class wanting to hear more. I was kind of like waking up hungry for more of the Word of the Lord.
When I was about 11 or 12 years old, my mother was involved in Jehovah’s Witness. I wasn’t interested. I told her it was boring to me, and I abandoned God. I rejected it and followed my own path. That path led to a broken heart. During the course, it felt like the path God had me on. It wasn’t a coincidence to me. I was in a bad place at the time, and this became an opening — a place where I could consistently sit down and hear God’s Word for about three months. That was good for me. People need that. Their life depends on it.
If I were talking to someone who was in court like I was, I would tell them this is a great opportunity. Whatever they were doing before that landed them in jail clearly wasn’t working. This could help them kickstart a new lifestyle — a new opportunity to make legitimate money instead of stealing or lying to make money. And it doesn’t cost them anything. The classes are free, and you learn a lot. You have a chance to get a good job. But they have to be willing to make a change. It’s not just going to fall into their hands. You have to put in effort.
Sometimes you have to sacrifice. It’s only a couple of months. You have to do what you have to do to straighten out your life. There’s nothing to lose and there’s a lot to gain.
Right now, I’m working. I was working while I was attending class too. My employer was willing to work with my schedule. It can be done. I’m waiting to see what happens with the union. I don’t know how long it will take, but I’m on the list. I’m grateful this program was there when I needed it. It helped me learn skills. It helped refresh my education. And it gave me consistent time in the Word when I needed it most.
Everybody deserves a second chance.
If you believe in giving people another opportunity, programs like CPO Outreach Career Center are helping people like me move in a different direction. Sometimes all it takes is someone opening a door.
