Letter from Taylor
Taylor recently worked with our Philly program and sent in this letter explaining how she turned her life around:
My name is Taylor. I am a 24-year-old single mother from Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
My daughter’s name is Hanāā; she is two years old, and I am the sole provider for her. When I found out I was pregnant, I knew that I had to make a change. These last couple of years have been very difficult, not to mention the added stress of the COVID19 pandemic.
These circumstances led me to lean on my community for resources. A friend’s mother gave me a phone number to a program called Eckerd Connects. She told me that the program offers support for youth who need it. She also told me that the people at Eckerd Connects care and would take the time to help me.
I reached out and spoke with a Career Coach who informed me about their partnership with Coy’s Dental Academy. The Career Coach did an excellent job explaining the program to me.
I felt this opportunity could start me on a bright career path, so I enrolled in the Eckerd Connects Delaware County program. Once I started, I realized how favorable the program was. In addition to offering the 12-week Dental Assistant program, Eckerd Connects offered courses in customer service, money management, and banking, just to name a few.
The most beneficial part of the program for me was the paid work experience. This gave me the chance to work in a dental office where I was able to gain hands-on experience while providing me with much needed financial support.
The education I received through this experience was priceless.
One of the best things about Eckerd Connects and what makes them stand out from other programs is the staff. My father became ill in the first few weeks of starting the program. This was a stressful period for me because it meant that I had to miss some of my classes.
All I can say is that the entire staff was there for me and was willing to provide extra assistance. They worked out a plan for me to make up any missed assignments and called me regularly to make sure I was okay.
I really appreciated how thoughtful and kind they were during that time.
As I end this note, I want to say thank you to the supporters of Eckerd Connects. The opportunities you provided along with your belief in me gave me the motivation and the encouragement I needed to be successful.
With your support, I completed Coy’s Dental Academy, passed my Board Exam and I am now a Certified Dental Assistant. I am also CPR certified as well as cross trained in my field. I am currently working as a dental assistant for HNR Dental.
Eckerd Connects helps make dreams a reality and I am proof.
Thank you for believing in me!
Sincerely,
Taylor
Learn more about our Workforce Development programs or find a program near you below.