Breaking Barriers and Building Dreams: Meet Jesse From fast food to Medical Assistant, Jesse is turning hard work into hope for himself and his family. At 25 years old, Jesse has already worn many hats. He’s worked as a team lead at McDonald’s, server at Pluckers, substitute teacher, and front-end supervisor at Walmart. But none of those titles compare to the one he just earned, his medical assistant certification from the Goodwill San Antonio Academy.

Meet Adriana! 👋 Adriana’s passion for caring for others began early in life. Growing up with a grandmother in poor health, she naturally wanted to help where she could. That early exposure to health care, along with a later experience of providing end-of-life care for her grandfather, deepened her calling to work in the medical field. “I wanted to become a nurse that cared for their patients, how I would care for my family,” Adriana said.

Meet Arlene 👋 Twenty-three years ago, Arlene began her journey with Goodwill San Antonio as a Workforce Development Associate, helping students find work and resources to expand their growth. Over time, she fell in love with work and the people around her, and Goodwill quickly became her second home.

In the Records Management warehouse at Goodwill San Antonio, among rows of neatly stacked boxes and organized files, one woman has been a familiar presence for over three decades. Bernie, as she’s known by her colleagues, is more than just a team lead. With 32 years of service under her belt, she is one of Goodwill San Antonio’s longest-serving team members and has played a vital role in the Business Services Unit.

Meet Yolanda 👋 Yolanda began her journey here at Goodwill San Antonio when she was just 21 years old, working as a cashier at the Fredericksburg Rd location. As a single mother, she found more than just a job, she found a supportive community that pushed her to grow. “I knew at that point I wanted to put myself in a position where I could serve others the way they did for me,” Yolanda said.

Meet Glenn👋 Glenn is a Goodwill San Antonio donation attendant with big dreams and an inspiring journey. After serving 16 years in prison, he was determined to turn his life around. He began searching for a second-chance employer and that’s when he found Goodwill.

Meet Noraima! 👋 After facing one financial setback after another, she began to lose sight of her dreams. However, life took a turn for the better when a former student of the Goodwill Academy shared her journey, which reignited a spark within her.

Meet Samuel!👋🎓 As a military child, Samuel experienced hardships like moving often and having to learn a different language while he and his family lived in Korea. However, he attributes these life lessons with preparing him for hurdles that would soon come his way. Because he had seen both parents become dependent on medication due to chronic illnesses, he saw the importance that medicine can have on the body. This led to his interest in pharmacology and why he “wanted to understand how medicine helps the body and promote healing — both for my parents and for others facing similar challenges.”

Meet Erica! 👋🎓 In 2005, Erica began working as a Certified Nursing Assistant when, in the middle of the pandemic, her world turned upside down. Due to an error with her paperwork, Erica had to leave her position.