“I was not a bad teen; I just made some dumb decisions.”
My name is Angelica Stanley; I attended the Greater Miami Service Corps in 2008 after being introduced through the juvenile court system. I was not a bad teen; I just made some dumb decisions. When I first enrolled in the Corps, I had no high school diploma or direction. Honestly, I took the program as a joke. It was just something to do. When I had my first child in 2009, reality kicked in, and I knew that I wanted better. My supervisor, Mr. Andrews, always told me you are getting older.
This program is not permanent; you need to get it together. He was right! I took advantage of the program free schooling, bus cards, and a stipend every two weeks. What better choice did I have.
I enrolled in school at Lindsey Hopkins Technical Educational Center in 2010 and earned my GED. Not only that, with the help of Mr. Miller and Mr. Clark, I was allowed to become a Team Captain.
As Team Captain, you learn leadership skills and assist the Team Supervisor with leading your peers in implementing service projects. I didn’t stop there; Greater Miami Service Corps staff members helped us (Corpsmembers) create resumes. I had the opportunity to apply for employment with multiple departments in Miami Dade County. In 2013, I was hired as a driver messenger with Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Service Department. In 2015, I applied for the Miami Dade Water and Sewer Department as a Mail Clerk 2.
In 2016, I graduated from college, earning my Criminal Justice Degree. I wanted to pursue a career in criminal justice, so I sought an opportunity to join the Miami-Dade Correction and Rehabilitation Department working in the legal department, where I am still employed.
I truly give thanks to the Greater Miami Service Corps! They provided resources and the tough love I needed to become the person I am today.