From Trainee to Employee, by Cristina

I have a college Associate’s Degree and worked for a year and a half after graduation, but I never felt that my employer understood me. My learning disabilities made it hard for me to express myself when I had questions or didn’t understand something. So, eventually I felt I needed to leave that job in the hope of finding something supportive.

I started as a trainee with Yes She Can at Girl AGain boutique 5 years ago, hoping to learn work skills that they don’t teach you in college. I immediately felt at ease with Marjorie, as she understands how women with disabilities think.

Over time, I learned all of the skills that the program taught, and eventually I was offered a paid part-time job at Girl AGain as a Sales Associate. I was taught how to input customer transactions into QuickBooks and soon felt comfortable using it to help the store stay organized for our bookkeeper, Ethel.

I also wrote thank you letters to doll donors, researched dolls and accessories online in order to price them, set out new displays according to the seasons, helped check-out customers when they bought merchandise, and even helped run special events on the weekends.

It has been wonderful to feel like I’m a valuable part of an organization. But perhaps the best part about my experience at Girl AGain has been that it gave me confidence, skills, and the courage to be successful in another job.

It has always been my desire to work in a library, and I have now been employed at my local library for the past 3 years.

The Girl AGain program was there for me when I felt lost after the negative experience at my first job and taught me the skills I needed to be successful in my current job. I am very thankful to Marjorie for starting this program, and to all the job coaches who have helped me along the way. They’ve taught me so much! Thank you!

By Cristina

Note:  Now that Cristina has a full schedule with her library job, she now works at Girl AGain every other Saturday to help Chandra, our boutique manager, with  customer workshops like  making doll t-shirts, creating doll quilts, and doll hair care.