Ashley grew up in Phoenix. She graduated high school and started working, but she felt aimless. Though she is a smart and determined young woman of great potential, she did not have anyone who could show her how to go to college, pursue a career, or follow her dreams.
“I was feeling lost. I was working, but I wasn’t headed anywhere. I wanted to go back to school, but I didn’t know how,” she remembers. “I had no idea what to do.”
Then, in 2022, Ashley was accepted into Year Up AZ. Year UP offers a one-year, intense career training program focused on preparing young adults for high demand careers. The program is rigorous.
“Year Up referred me to Live & Learn pretty early on, and I was interested right away. I needed support, someone I could rely on to help me with whatever I was going through, and that was Live & Learn.”
With Live & Learn’s support, Ashley successfully graduated from Year Up AZ with a certificate in business administration. She worked with her Live & Learn Client Coordinator to develop monthly Action Plans focused on education, internship, and health goals. Her Client Coordinator helped Ashley enroll in health insurance, understand her benefits, and go to doctor’s appointments. Ashley attended Live & Learn workshops that helped her develop strong financial literacy skills.
Even now, as Ashley is starting a new job at Charles Schwab, her journey with Live & Learn is not finished yet. She is in the process of becoming a licensed broker. Once she has completed that goal, Ashley plans to return to school to earn a degree in business and finance. “My Client Coordinator is with me every step. I can call her when I am overwhelmed, when I hit a new challenge. And I know she will keep applying that gentle pressure on me to keep advancing my education and career. With the support of Live & Learn, Ashley has transformed her life.
How Live & Learn Helped:
- Goal setting
- Healthcare access
- Gas stipend
- Financial literacy
