Liliana: A Story of Giving Back

When Liliana left Costa Rica and arrived in San Antonio, she knew she was starting over. For more than ten years, she had built a career for herself as an educator in Central America, however, in Texas, she struggled to find a job.

“Moving to the United States was both exciting and overwhelming,” said Liliana. “I left behind a career I loved. I had no U.S. job history, no professional connections, and didn’t even know how to write a resume the American way. I had to start here at zero.”

For Lilianna, a turning point in her life came when she enrolled in the free Administrative Assistant program at Goodwill. After completing the course, she visited the Goodwill Career Center for help finding a job. And by January 2020, just before the pandemic, she was offered a position at Goodwill as a Career Services Associate. It was a role that allowed her the opportunity to help others find meaningful work.

When the pandemic hit and numerous individuals were faced with loss of employment, the needs from the Career Center were in high demand. Liliana and the Career Center team met the challenge by shifting their in-person operations and began providing services remotely – by phone, online and through e-mail.

“I truly love my job at Goodwill because every day I get to make a difference in someone’s life. Helping clients overcome barriers, find stability, and realize their potential gives me a sense of purpose that I wouldn’t trade for anything,” said Liliana.

After the pandemic, Liliana returned to in-person operations yet was met with a new challenge. After being promoted from a Career Services Associate to a Career Services Specialist, Liliana was transferred to a new location that was experiencing low foot traffic and minimal clientele. Determined to reach more individuals, Liliana launched a proactive outreach plan. She began meeting with store shoppers who were waiting for the store to open each morning, informing them about the Career Center services. She even encouraged store employees to help spread the word about the Career Center which resulted in an increase in foot traffic leading to her building a caseload of 80 active clients. Her efforts earned her a nomination and recognition as the 2024 Goodwill’s Above and Beyond award recipient for 2024.

Today, Liliana continues her work at the Goodwill Career Center at the Goliad store near Brooks City Base, where her office has become a place of opportunity. From building resumes to connecting clients with resources, she guides and encourages everyone. For Liliana, her story is about resilience. She came to Goodwill searching for opportunity, now, every day, she offers that same hope to others, reminding them that starting over can lead to something great.

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Looking for work or training opportunities? Goodwill’s Career Services are free and open to everyone. Click here to learn more. And when you donate or shop at Goodwill, you’re helping change lives through the power of work.

By, Yvonne Byrd, ybyrd@goodwillsa.org.