William: A Story of Determination

From an early age, William was immersed in toxic environments. With parents who were in active addiction, William grew up believing that it was okay to live with addiction as long as “the bills were being paid.” This mentality would later cost him. Life quickly took a turn for the worse; with the loss of three important people, he began to lose sight of the light at the end of the tunnel. 

As life seemed to be getting harder, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison. While in prison he would learn the financial burden he was putting on his mother, which was what prompted him to actively do better for himself and his loved ones. With a new perspective on life, he shortly came to realize he wanted to change the image his daughter had of him; “I don’t want to mess up and lose the chance of not being in her life again” he said.

Shortly after being released, he was introduced to the Goodwill re-entry program. During the program, William’s Certified Logistics Associate (CLA) instructor encouraged him to apply at Goodwill, his first job out of prison. William not only got a job at Goodwill working as a groundskeeper at Fort Sam Houston, he earned a 93.8 on his final, graduating at the top of his class.

For William, Goodwill is more than a job, it is a second chance towards a better future.

“Goodwill never saw me like I was anything other than a normal person” he said, “it’s something people like us don’t get when we’re released.”

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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: Bela Gonzalez, Digital Communication Specialist

igonzalez@goodwillsa.org.