Arianna first came to Escondido Education COMPACT in 2013, after years of personal struggles that involved substance abuse and incarceration at the Girls Rehabilitation Facility in San Diego. COMPACT’s North County Youth Career Network Recovery and Re-Engagement program provides at-risk youth in North County with work-readiness training, establishing individual career pathways and, ultimately, linkages to employment.
Through the program, Arianna received work-readiness training and assistance with GED preparation. She learned job-search skills related to interviewing and building a résumé and cover letter. Case managers worked closely with Arianna to help her overcome some of her personal struggles and learn to make better choices.
One of the best parts of the program for Arianna was COMPACT’s Automotive Technology ROP class in which she learned about quick service maintenance of motor vehicles. After the successful completion of the Automotive Technology class, she was placed in a paid internship at the House of Manifolds in Vista, where she received hands-on training and mentoring in an automotive shop environment. Arianna loves cars and getting her hands dirty working on engines.
Arianna is currently enrolled in Mira Costa College to become a certified auto technician. She plans to complete her post-secondary education and work at an automotive shop to gain additional experience. Her future goal is to own her own automotive shop and give other youth opportunities to gain experience in this field.
Arianna explains her gratitude to COMPACT for the support provided. “If it wasn’t for COMPACT, I don’t know what I’d be doing right now,” she says. “They helped me with my résumé, interviewing and called me every day. They even took me shopping so I would have appropriate clothes for work, and provided me a bus pass so I could get to work. Once I got into work at House of Manifolds, I paid attention, worked hard and listened. I really enjoyed the hands-on work and the job experience helped a lot.”
Arianna advises youth in similar situations to take advantage of the resources around them. “The program will help you succeed if you really want to succeed,” she says. “Always work hard and you will reach your goals.”