Shawn Torres
Rising Star, WIA Youth Services Program (April 2010)
Shawn Torres came to Goodwill knowing that an education and a career would be the key to unlocking his future. At age 16, he had unlimited potential, but he faced several obstacles that made his goals difficult to achieve. A father at a young age, he was also living on the streets of Austin. Through Goodwill’s WIA Youth Services Program, funded by Workforce Solutions—Capital Area, he was able to earn his GED in just two months.
Once he gained stable housing with his in-laws he began to work on building his job experience and skill set by enrolling in Goodwill’s Project Reboot Program, where he learned more about computer de-manufacturing, audio and video chip testing and more.
On Shawn’s eighteenth birthday, he was involved in a serious car accident resulting in health related issues, but he still continued to explore his interests in securing post-secondary education. Shawn weighed several options for schools after attending Goodwill’s college fair and was accepted to the Southwest Institute of Technology.
In order to help support himself and his family while in school, Shawn was able to secure a position at a manufacturing facility. Working hard for his family and his future, Shawn, now 18 years old, is paving his way to a brighter future.
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