As Kentucky’s workforce of tomorrow prepares to take center stage, communities across the Commonwealth are investing in young adults and equipping them with the skills, resources, and support they need to build successful futures. For young adults like Stephanie, a foreign exchange student from Italy, that support is helping lay the foundation for a future filled with possibility.
When Stephanie came to the Paducah Opportunity Center, she knew she was searching for employment that fit her busy school schedule and met her visa requirements. What she didn’t know was that in addition to job placement support, she would receive connections to a variety of other resources with help from her career coach, Stuart.
“Stuart is amazing,” Stephanie said. “He’s one of the best people who have helped me through the entire process, with my university work and finding a job. Anytime I have an issue, I always come here. When people mention Goodwill, the first thing they think about is stores, but there are so many resources that come with it.”
Stephanie received vouchers for food, clothes, and gas to travel to her university in Murray, and was even guided through the process of renting her own apartment. She completed job-readiness training, which allowed her to understand her strengths as a foreign exchange student.
“It’s been rough,” she said. “But Stu has helped me. I didn’t know that knowing several languages could be such a strength in the workplace. He helped me see that. Back in Europe, it’s very common for us to know at least seven languages. He helped me understand that I have a lot more strengths than I thought I did.”
Stephanie said Stuart studied the visa requirements for foreign exchange students and was able to locate an opening at Lowe’s that fit those parameters. It was her first professional job setting.
“Every young person deserves a chance to discover where they can go and have someone in their corner along the way,” said Rena Sharpe, chief operating officer for Goodwill Kentucky. “That’s why this work matters. When we invest in young adults, we’re not just addressing today’s needs; we’re helping shape stronger communities and a stronger Kentucky for years to come.”
Today, Stephanie is studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), with hopes of working in an office setting one day. Until that day comes, she said she will “keep pestering Stuart with questions” while spreading the good news about Goodwill. She recently connected some members of her Bible study to Goodwill, who went on to secure employment.
“Over the nearly two years I have had the privilege of working with Stephanie, I have watched an Italian exchange student arrive in America and do far more than simply navigate a new country,” said Stuart. “She has built a life here. She has formed lifelong friendships, found community through her church, worked with an extraordinary sense of purpose, and pursued dreams so ambitious that, at times, they are bigger than I can even fathom.”
Stephanie’s experience shows that preparing Kentucky’s workforce of tomorrow is about more than helping someone find a job—it’s about helping them recognize their strengths, overcome barriers, and gain the confidence and connections to pursue what comes next.
“[Goodwill] is a fantastic place,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen any of the career coaches, any of the employees, not help you when you walk through the doors. It’s just shining from left to right.”