Maria moved to California at age 16. She dropped out of high school during the pandemic and explained she felt “aimless” and “frustrated.” A year later, she contacted Golden Sierra and got connected to a high school completion program. While attending school, Golden Sierra set her up with a paid internship at Kelli’s Cookies – a local small business. This opportunity was so much more than a paycheck. Maria explained the part-time job gave her a sense of purpose. It allowed her to interact with others and overcome the isolation of the previous year. Feeling empowered, Maria completed her high school credits, found another part-time job, and enrolled in community college courses. She passed the state exam to become a Certified Nursing Assistant and is working toward a degree in Nursing.

Maria was set up with a paid internship at Kelli’s Cookies, a local small business, by Golden Sierra.