My Story – Montreal Ellis

Before I came to Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana, I was working for a lawn service;  when the company changed managers, I was laid off. I worked for a while fixing TVs for cash, but that didn’t last long. My mom took me to see a counselor at Louisiana Rehabilitation Services, and she referred me to Goodwill’s Supported Employment Program.

Goodwill taught me how to look for a job. They taught me interview skills, how to dress, how to talk to employers, about customer service and about giving my best effort on the job. They took me for an interview at Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino, and I was hired as a deck hand on the river boat casino. I had a job coach that helped me learn my job and a retention specialist that kept in touch with me and checked in with my supervisor to see how I was doing.

I’ve been working for almost two years now. I’m not as quiet as I used to be. I’ve learned to help people and respect them. I have a good working relationship with my coworkers and my supervisor. I’ve showed them what I’m made of, and I don’t give up.

This job has made a big difference in my life and I could not have done it without Goodwill’s help. Since I got this job, I have gotten married and we now have a three-month old son. In the future, I hope my wife and I can get a better house to live in and she can go to school.

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