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Anthony’s Story

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Before enrolling in YouthBuild of Greater Lowell, Anthony was a student at Greater Lowell High School. While he maintained “average” grades, his attendance was, to say the least, weak. He frequently skipped 2-3 days of school per week, and when he did attend, he was often very late. Though his grades allowed him to progress, passing his freshman and sophomore years, he began to struggle significantly in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, and schools were forced into remote learning. Attending school on Zoom proved challenging, as it did for many young adults during that time. By the beginning of his senior year, Anthony didn’t have enough credits to graduate and was presented with two options. He could either repeat his junior and senior years at Lowell High School, or he could enroll at YouthBuild, where he could take the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), learn a trade, serve his community, and earn a stipend for his work.

“I didn’t think twice, as I thought it was too good to be true. And now, two years after graduating, I’m confident that I am so much further in life with the support and connection from YouthBuild than I would have been if I had taken the other option.”

Anthony enrolled in YouthBuild in February of 2022, choosing Carpentry and Construction as his trade. He excelled in the education classroom, earning his HiSET before anyone else in his class and scoring well above average. He earned all of his construction certifications, including his OSHA-10 Hour, NCCER Core, and NCCER Site Safety. Anthony also completed 100 hours of community service for Habitat for Humanity and participated in many other community service projects. He was enrolled in Driver’s Education, where he earned his license on the first attempt. While attending YouthBuild, Anthony also worked 20+ hours per week at a part-time job at a local gas station.

After graduating, YouthBuild recommended Anthony for placement in the Youth Works Work Experience Program through MassHire of Lowell. He was placed with the Department of Public Works (DPW) as a garage helper. Due to his exemplary performance in the Work Experience Program, Anthony was offered a full-time position as a Maintenance Worker for the City of Lowell DPW. In April 2024, he was transferred to an MEO III position.

In November 2024, Anthony passed his Class A CDL test, and on Thanksgiving, the staff received this message:

“Hi! I just wanted to tell you that I passed my Class A CDL road test and I got my CDL! I never thought I’d be where I am today, and I truly can’t thank you and everyone at YouthBuild enough for setting me up for success and pushing me to be the best person I can be. Growing up, I knew I wanted to have a good life for myself and my future family, but I was never sure how I would be able to obtain and achieve that. I’m forever grateful that you and everyone at YouthBuild helped me every step of the way to accomplish so many things in my life to reach my goals!

Thank you for changing my life! Have a safe and happy turkey day—I’m forever thankful for you and YouthBuild!”

Anthony’s journey demonstrates the transformative power of YouthBuild in helping young adults overcome challenges and achieve their goals. With the support and guidance from the program, Anthony not only earned his HiSET and built a successful career but also gained the confidence and skills to secure a stable future. His story is a testament to how determination, hard work, and the right opportunities can change the course of one’s life.