Daylon F.
Age: 26
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Center: Cleveland
Region: Chicago
JC Dates: 07/15/2014 – 07/06/2016
Career Area: Bricklaying and Carpentry
Employer: Warwick Products Position: Painter
School: Ohio Technical College Major: Welding

Before joining the Cleveland Job Corps family, Cleveland native, Daylon F. worked a couple of odd jobs with his father fixing cars on the side. Due to the lack of credentials, he was not reaching his earning potential nor his own expectations for his life. “I wanted something better in life and to be a good role model for my children,” explained Daylon. Understanding that “hands-on” training works best for him, Daylon decided to enroll in the Job Corps Program.

On July 15, 2014, Daylon embarked on a new pathway, earning a Penn Foster High School Diploma and completing two trades, Bricklaying and Carpentry. He also, acquired the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Core Curriculum, Masonry Power Tool User, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10, Green Craft Training, HILTI Powder Actuated Tools, Scaffold Safety, International Masonry Institute (IMI) Pre-Apprentice Certificate, and United Brothers of Carpentry (UBC) Pre-Apprentice certifications. Daylon would like to acknowledge Math Instructor, Levy for his mentorship, inspiring him to do better, and classroom instruction. Daylon was a Dorm Leader, and in his spare time he could be found in the Recreation Center working out or playing basketball with friends.

Daylon’s advice to prospective students in the construction trades at Job Corps is for them to focus on their work and stay goal oriented while in the program. He reminisced about having to learn to overcome distractions and to remain positive and focus on the life that he was building for his family and himself. “I believe that people can position themselves for a successful career if they work hard in their trade and academic classes,” said Daylon.

Daylon is working at Warwick Products as a painter while he pursues his Welding credentials at Ohio Technical College. When he finishes school, he plans to pursue employment opportunities in the building trade unions, or with Lincoln Electric as a welder. He also plans to further his career by taking more classes at Ohio Technical College. “I appreciate the training and services I received from the Cleveland Job Corps Center,” said Daylon. “It has helped me be more independent; without it, I would probably have never received my High School Diploma.”