Jim has a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and he was working as a social worker for years. He was working in mental health case management, and he got a master’s degree in the same field. However, with time, he realized that maybe this wasn’t the most fulfilling career for him. He found himself constantly under pressure to find the right answer or solution for the problems of other patients, which ended up generating anxiety and depression in him. “I think that I chose that field because I had some sort of question about my own mental health and was looking for answers. Probably I should not have gotten a master’s degree; probably I should have maybe gone and seen a therapist.”
”"Initially, I felt intimidated, lacking experience with tools or machinery. But with one-on-one support from Mike, JARC’s CNC instructor, and guidance from the entire JARC team, I gained the confidence to feel comfortable in this environment."
Jim
Like Jim, many of our clients struggle with different barriers that prevent them from developing themselves in a well-balanced environment and lack the resources to overcome their obstacles. Jim was living in a shelter when he found out about JARC. He recalls seeing a printed flyer displaying our welding and CNC programs every time he came out of his classroom. He started feeling that this was a sign, and he was sure that he didn’t want to go back to his previous job as a social worker, so that’s when he started looking into our programs and chose our Computer Numerical Control (CNC) program.
While in the program, Jim received a lot of support from our staff to make him feel confident in his new career path.
He worked on improving his math skills before being able to write codes and run them on the machines. He also got transportation assistance and employment coaching to help him prepare for his interviews. “I got really nervous about going for my first interview. JARC helped me work through it, and I was able to go and get my job. I was shocked!” Jim started working in November 2022 at a local machine store in Owings Mills. He is working as a CNC operator, where he is able to look at the code and the program. He mentioned that his company is helping him learn even more so he will be able to actually make changes to the program. “I’m 59 years old, and I just feel like this is a completely new way of working, so I’m in no hurry. I will do what they say and follow their direction, and I will eventually be operating on my own, independently”. When we asked him what his favorite part of being a CNC operator was, he said, “The nice thing with CNC is that there’s a right answer. This is how it’s done. This is what you do, step by step by step. There’s nothing arbitrary or ambiguous.
As a social worker, there wasn’t always a right answer, and I’m not saying that I won’t struggle with solutions as a CNC operator, but there are different types of solutions and different types of problems, more concrete and less ambiguous, I think.” He also told us that his goal is to become a valued employee and learn as much as he can. “JARC had helped me physically, but it also helped me mentally to focus, to concentrate, to discipline my attention, and to be present in the moment. I always tell people it’s not too late. We get a lot of guys who come into the shelter who are my age or maybe a little younger. But they feel like it’s too late, and then they just give up. And certainly, my head tells me that occasionally, just give up; you’re too old. But, you know, I’m still in relatively good physical health. I could still learn new things. Teach an old dog new tricks!” When we asked him what he would say to someone who was planning to come to JARC, he said, “Why not? What do you have to lose? You know, I think JARC is great. I think it’s a great program, and you can get a solid job. Why not look into it?
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