YouthBuild Profile: Jorge Ruiz
Jorge Ruiz looks on his work
Five months ago, I dropped out of high school. I spent my time waking up late and going to bed late. I thought that was life, but one day I realized I was not doing much towards the goals I had planned for life. At that moment I started looking for alternative programs that would help me get a G.E.D. When I least expected, I had found hope; I was now sitting in the YouthBuild office filling an application.
Nowadays most jobs require a High School Diploma or a G.E.D., without either I know I would be lost again. YouthBuild has helped me in many ways. One of the most important ways it has helped me is getting me closer to my G.E.D. My goal is to enroll in the military and be making the kind of money I want to earn for myself and for my future family…
YouthBuild offers you a skill, construction, which everyone should eventually know about and be familiar with. Construction, here at YouthBuild, makes a difference to the community not only here in Brownsville but in the whole nation. We build homes for low-income families all over the city and get to meet a lot of friendly people. We get to learn something about their lives.
Two reasons why I dropped out of school were because of my absences and not being responsible of my classes. I was being sent to court almost every year. But since I started coming to YouthBuild, it has made me more responsible not only for school, but for later in life. YouthBuild has made me a leader and now I’m responsible for my actions. If I arrive late to school, I have to pay with 30 minutes of detention. I realize detention is the result of my actions.
YouthBuild has changed my entire life and also the way I think about my family, others, and myself. YouthBuild opens its doors to anyone who is struggling with his or her life. This program is a real chance of a lifetime. Hopefully, I get my G.E.D. soon, so I can move on to a better life.
