Jordan’s family struggled to make ends meet and often did not have reliable transportation. “I wanted to learn how to fix cars so I could help my family. We couldn’t afford a new car or to pay for a mechanic when things broke down. My mom and I were able to do some things from internet videos, but that didn’t always work,” recalls Jordan. “When I learned that we would have a chance to learn how to work on cars at the Ranch through the Basic Automotive Care & Maintenance Class, I jumped at the opportunity. Tim Gilge, the instructor, taught me not just about how to fix a car, but also how to stay safe while doing it, and how to maintain the car so it needed less work down the road.”
Getting to attend the classes was a big motivator for Jordan to work on her treatment while at the Ranch. She showed up every Wednesday for two months, never missing a minute of class. She was always eager to learn, ask questions, and help her peers if they were struggling. When Jordan graduated, she cried when she was gifted her own set of tools. A few months after she was discharged, Jordan called the Ranch to talk with Tim. She had gotten a job at the local auto parts store! Jordan had no previous work experience but, because she had taken the class, was given a chance to work and learn more. A year later, Jordan is still working there and now has plans to pursue trade school and become a certified mechanic.
*For the privacy of the youth served at the Ranch, names have been changed. Image(s) shown here are a representation of those served at the Ranch.
