When I came to We Love Philly in 2021, I never thought I’d become an apprentice. Truthfully, I just came to We Love Philly for a high school credit. At the time, I needed to finish school as soon as possible. I was 20 years old and pregnant, but I ended up staying with We Love Philly for over four years. After earning my high school diploma, I started an apprenticeship as a 23 year old mother with another child on the way. I never thought about a career, I was fine doing the things that people around me were doing… which was nothing.
My apprenticeship was not only an opportunity to learn, but an opportunity to get paid while learning. That meant that I was able to provide for my two kids and help myself grow at the same time. I was watering two pots with one water can.
I started with a 40 hour work week paying $16 an hour, that was livable to a point. Months later, I got a raise boosting me to $18 an hour which felt more breathable, but once I got to $20, that was it. I started getting confidence and feeling worthy of a higher paying job. I felt like I had finally become an adult and now I want more for myself and my family. My dreams became clearer, but most importantly my life became clearer.
Support & Opportunities
The opportunities and support I was given through my apprenticeship are something I wouldn’t receive anywhere else. I got the opportunity to get certificates, network, and build out my resume, portfolio, and all the things that set me up for success. These were adult things that nobody prepared me for, but the We Love Philly apprenticeship did. It started everything. It was the start of my career, the start of my adult life, and most importantly it’s the start of becoming the best role model I can possibly be.