At age five, Joselyn and her family immigrated from Honduras to Los Angeles, where she encountered challenges and life took an unexpected turn. 

“I got pregnant at an early age,” Joselyn said. “I felt really judged, so I decided to quit high school.”

After becoming a mom, Joselyn understood that a new direction was essential for her family’s future.

“I needed a change in my life. I wanted a place more safe for my kids, so we decided to move to Indiana,” Joselyn said. 

After facing challenges in her career due to her lack of a high school diploma, Joselyn took matters into her own hands and enrolled at The Excel Center®, Goodwill’s tuition-free high school for adults.

“The teachers at The Excel Center were always there for me,” Joselyn said. “They always kept pushing me not to give up.”

Not only was Joselyn attending The Excel Center, but her oldest daughter was also a student, and soon, they were classmates.

“It was nice knowing that I had her support and that she was there for me,” Joselyn said. “I was being a role model to her, but she was also being a role model to me.”

Joselyn not only earned her high school diploma but also a medical translation certification, allowing her to make an impact in her community as a language access advocate. She also enrolled at Ivy Tech Community College to continue her education. 

Recently, Joselyn worked with TalentSource™, Goodwill’s in-house job placement team, to connect with BMORE, an inclusive workforce development program through BMO Bank, where she was hired as an Associate Banker. 

“This is what I dreamed about when I was younger,” Joselyn said. “Life hasn’t been easy for me. People put me down and said I was nobody, but I'm here, and I feel that I'm somebody now.”

Visit excelcenter.org to learn more or to enroll.