With a desire to become a change agent, Miquel began focusing on developing leadership skills. He served as Secretary of the Student Government Association, dorm leader of the male dorm, and a peer mentor to new students. Additionally, he was a member of the Spanish club, “Club Esparanza,” and worked on Center as the security desk receptionist during the pandemic.
In August 2020, tragedy hit as Miquel had to deal with the loss of his grandmother. “She was my lifeline, my everything,” stated Miquel. Experiencing a profound amount of grief, he decided to use the pain to push himself. Day by day, he worked harder and focused on doing better.
Miquel earned his high school diploma through the Center’s partnership with Penn Foster on May 2, 2021. Next, he completed the Office Administration trade in December 2020, earning his Customer Service, Bank Deposits & Reconciliation, and Basic Microsoft Office certifications. Then, he accomplished another goal when he completed the Medical Administrative Assistant trade in August 2021.
Upon graduating from the Cleveland Job Corps Center, Miquel was accepted into the Transportation Communications Union (TCU)/IAM Advanced Training program at the Potomac Job Corps Center. While there, he plans to train to become a flight attendant.
Miquel has indeed grown during his two years at Cleveland Job Corps, and he attributes his growth to the losses he has endured and a determination to make his grandmother and family proud. “All of my success is because of my grandmother and the support she gave me when I was still trying to figure out life,” acknowledged Miquel.