Bubbly. Friendly. Driven. Three words to describe Julie. In 2020, she came to Goodwill of Orange County ready for new opportunities and ready
to work.
Through Goodwill OC’s Project SEARCH program, Julie was matched with a year-long internship at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). There she learned about working in both food services and hospitality. The internship gave her the opportunity to broaden her skillset, work and learn about several different hospital departments including: neuroscience, sterile processing and revenue.
Her time working at CHOC left her energized and ready to further her career. With the continued support of Goodwill OC, Julie was matched with an employment opportunity at a local grocery store.
There, she works side-by-side with her Job Coach Ashley who acts as support to ensure Julie understands her responsibilities and completes her daily tasks safely. Julie’s favorite part of the job is interacting with various customers at the different stations throughout the store.
These interactions can invite comments about Julie’s disabilities, but with Ashley’s support and encouragement, Julie is more confident in her abilities than ever.
Her confidence level is at an all-time high, and Julie finds herself effortlessly doing tasks she never thought she could complete.
“These different roles taught me to keep going. Nothing can stop you, not really. Even if you have a disability or not. You can still go for it, Julie said. “You might have to try a little harder, but you will get to where you want to be.”
Julie’s ultimate goal is to become solely independent in her career. She hopes to be able to handle the physical demands of her jobs without any support.
Ashley loves working with Julie and it’s taught her what it’s like supporting someone in the best way. She views Goodwill OC as the source of so many opportunities
“Don’t think of us as just a thrift store but think about Goodwill of Orange County as a tree,” Ashley says. “The trunk is Goodwill and there are so many branches or different departments and opportunities and jobs that we provide. The tree will keep growing, you’ll never know where it will lead you.”
