Growing up in Shelbyville, Jessica was a successful student, a high school graduate, and eventually a mother. But when she began falling into hard times, she felt alone. That’s when she learned about Goodwill Kentucky.
“Different things happened, and I got on drugs,” she said. “I had felonies, and Goodwill was willing to hire me.”
Today, Jessica works at our Shelbyville store and has her sights set on a meaningful goal: pursuing a degree in criminal justice. She aspires to work in rehabilitation to help individuals who are facing challenges she once faced, in honor of her daughter.
“My daughter passed away from a fentanyl overdose two years ago,” she said. “I decided that I’m going to turn that into something positive. I want to work with people like her and me.”
Jessica said attending school wouldn’t be possible without Goodwill Kentucky’s tuition reimbursement program. After earning her associate’s degree in criminal justice, she plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
“This county needs something, and I want to be a part of that,” she said.
Jessica has been sober for two years. She shares her story openly with Shelbyville residents who have seen her at her lowest, crediting Goodwill Kentucky for her success.
“I know a lot of people who come here,” she said. “I’ve had the displeasure of being on the streets, and now I’m different. They see that, and they want to know how.”