Read Roy's Amazing Story:

Mission Moment

Roy’s mom was in prison from the time he was 5 until he was 14 years old. During that time, he lived with his father, who owned jewelry stores. As he was growing up, Roy worked with his dad and learned some things about jewelry. This was the “silver lining” in their relationship. However, Roy describes his father as abusive and reports that, while he abused everyone in the family, for some reason he was most abusive towards Roy.

Eventually Roy had enough and, although he was still in high school, he moved out of his dad’s house. He attempted to reconnect with his mother but he was not successful.

From that point on, Roy was on his own. For a while, he was working and going to high school but making ends meet as a teenager was impossible. He started “running with a bad crowd, doing crazy stuff,” even selling drugs to make extra money. It was easy, fast money, but eventually it became a horrendous lifestyle. Roy was constantly looking over his shoulder. Whether it was the police beating down his door or other drug runners beating him up, Roy knew he was putting his life in jeopardy every day. He ended up dropping out of high school and “couch surfing,” moving from place to place. He was in and out of jail and in and out of relationships. It seemed that trouble followed him wherever he went.

Eventually, friends started dying. He found himself attending one funeral after another. The death of his best friend sent him on a drinking binge. Around that time, Roy had a conversation with another friend who had found a different path. This friend encouraged him to relocate, deal with his substance abuse issues, and start again.

Roy took his friend’s advice. He moved to Florida, checked himself into a rehab center, and got sober. When he left the center, he made another positive decision: he moved into a halfway house where he and the other residents were encouraged and required to maintain sobriety.

His friend had mentioned the possibility of working at Goodwill. He told Roy that Goodwill hired people to price jewelry, something he knew Roy already had experience with. The “silver lining” from his difficult home life was about to pay off. Roy knew that with his criminal record, finding a job would be very difficult. He was happy to learn that Goodwill is a second chance employer. He was hired and began his training.

Roy learned that his job at Goodwill came with a GoodPartner Coach, who would help him set and reach his personal and professional goals. He began meeting with his coach regularly. One of their topics of discussion was returning to school to get a high school diploma. His coach told him that Goodwill pays for classes and tests so that team members can earn a GED. Roy was thinking it was possible he might be able to pass the GED tests without taking classes. His coach explained she could assist with getting him the pre-tests that allow a prospective GED test-taker to determine if they are ready to take the GED test and, if not, which areas they need to study further to pass. She noted that Goodwill would also pay for these GED ready tests. Roy took all four of the ready tests, which confirmed that he was ready for the actual GED test. So, he began. One by one, he passed each of the four sections and he earned his GED. He was very happy about his accomplishment and he was also very happy to learn that Goodwill rewards team members with educational incentives. Roy earned a $200 bonus for reaching this milestone.

Roy had also been enrolled in GoodwillWorks and had completed taking his employability skills classes. Now that he had his GED, his coach was able to help him move forward in the process. His manager assessed his ability to become a Role Model Worker. She was happy to give him positive marks. Roy recently attended a recognition breakfast where he was congratulated both for earning his GED and for becoming a certified Role Model Worker.

Roy’s coach asked him about his next goals. He says he is still working to clean up things from his past life: he has some fines and debts to pay off, he is working to reinstate his driver’s license, and saving to purchase a vehicle. He also wants to be there more for his daughters, to help them live better, safer lives than he had in his adolescence and early adulthood. He is giving thought to building a business of his own someday and, in time, he will determine what he wants that to look like.

For now, Roy is moving along on a better path and feeling grateful to still be alive. Today, he can see a future – one with more opportunity than he ever saw before. He is thankful that Goodwill offered him the opportunity for a second chance to change his life through the power of work.

Changing lives through the power of work!