Skip to Content

A Youth Program Success Story: Jared Harris

Jared Harris is a student at White Settlement ISD’s Center for Transition Services and is currently part of a program called PRIDE – Preparing for Responsibility and Independence in the Daily Environment.

Jared has an Intellectual Disability and a Speech Impairment that has slowed him down in the past, but he is motivated to become independent. Though Jared has graduated from High School he needs additional support that he receives at the Transition Center.

Jared was introduced to Goodwill when he became part of the Pre-ETS program provided on the campus at his high school by Goodwill trainers.  Jared participated in the classroom session in the Fall of 2018 and then he participated in a Work Experience in Spring of 2019. Jared was able to get work experience at Goodwill North Central Texas, the Fort Worth Central Library, and the Omni Fort Worth Hotel.  Additionally, Jared participated in Goodwill’s Summer Earn and Learn program (SEAL) where he was able to experience working at The Movie Tavern.  Jared now has real-world experience in employment and earning a paycheck.  Jared said, “I really liked working at the Movie Tavern and I hope to work there and make my own money.”

When asked what he has learned in the work experience program Jared stated, “I learned a lot of new cleaning skills; sweeping, dusting, cleaning windows and cleaning outside.  I also learned how to work well with other people and my co-workers.”

This past fall, Jared again participated in the classroom session of Pre-ETS and showed remarkable improvement over his first experience.  When asked what he had learned in the classroom, Jared shared, “I have learned about following directions, being on time and about hygiene.”

In addition to learning about workplace expectations, Jared learned about Financial Literacy through the Pre-ETS class and now understands more about how to save money and spend responsibly.  Jared says that he is ready to open a bank account and start saving the money that he earns in the work experience and with SEAL.

Jared was asked how his life has changed since he started attending programs with Goodwill and he said, “It helped me learn so much stuff. I am ready for the real world.”

Newsletter Signup

Newsletter Signup

By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth, PO Box 15520, Fort Worth, TX, 76119, US, http://www.goodwillnorthcentraltexas.org. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.