Thursday, December 5, 2024
Students enrolled in Forward Training Center’s Powered for Life class received a warm welcome and recognition from city officials when they attended the Granbury City Council meeting Oct. 15.
The STARS Accelerated High School students are enrolled in the program to gain tools and skills necessary to gain future employment.
During the meeting, Mayor Jim Jarratt, City Manager Chris Coffman, and City Attorney Jeremy SoRelle spoke highly about the program and its students.
“One of the things that (instructor Walter Wilson) does is ask us to come in and speak to this group,” Jarratt said. “Every time that we come, we always get this question: ‘What’s the best part of your job?’ I guarantee you (the answer) is being right there, at that right time, and at that moment, because meeting with these young adults who are our future is the best part of the job.”
Coffman explained that the interactions they have with the students offer a truly unique one-on-one experience, adding that he answers all types of questions — everything from, “What do you do?” to “How much do you make?”
“It's a learning curve for everybody and we get to know each other,” Coffman said. “Sometimes we get to hire somebody out of that group because they come and apply for a job, and that's always encouraging, so that's part of what we do, is try to mentor these folks right along.”
“It’s an incredible program,” SoRelle added. “Every time Walt (Wilson) calls and says, ‘Hey, can you come out and talk to the kids?’ I’m like, 30 minutes early. I love it. It’s exciting, and I love interacting with them.”
SoRelle added that he appreciates the way Wilson personalizes the experience for each student — especially if they have a specific career in mind for the future.
"I might not go for a few months, and then he'll call me up and say, ‘Hey, we got a kid that wants to be a lawyer.’ Great. I'm there,” he said. “We go in and we have a great time.”
"To have these people take time out of their day to come and donate their time to the kids is really something special and unique to this community,” Wilson said. “You should all be proud of what they do, because they really do take the time to spend an hour-and-a-half to two hours a day during the class and pour into them.”
Coffman congratulated the students on getting one step closer to completing the Powered for Life program, and also encouraged them to keep an eye on the city’s job postings.
“We’re always looking to hire people,” he added.
