Zach Warder turned his life around after joining Job Corps.

“I came from a tough situation, he says, “I’ve been homeless before, couch hopping at friends’ houses. And it was one of my friends; his parents told me about this place.”

This place is Job Corps. He began training in Florida and then moved to the Earle C. Clements Job Corps Academy in Kentucky. Zach is in the advanced commercial driver’s license program.

“I like the trucking industry in general,” he adds. Walking up to a commercial truck, Zach’s instructor Jim Lyon explains what Zach needs to do to prepare for his next driving experience.

“I want you to start with the pre-trip,” says Jim. “Let’s start with the engine compartment.”

Jim says Zach has the right attitude to succeed in Job Corps and life.

“When he asks you something, he’s sincere. And he truly wants to learn. It’s not, ‘hurry up and let’s get out of here.’ It’s, ‘teach me a trade so when I can make a living when I get done here.’”

The advanced training is outstanding at Earle C. Clements Job Corps.

“You know,” says Zach, “this center has one of the number-one programs for trucking in America right now.”

“I’ll be honest with you,” says Jim, “I wasn’t sure I was going to like this when I took the job. But to see the looks on their faces when they complete something.”

Zach looks forward to a good-paying job in the commercial trucking business, where the need right now for these skilled workers is tremendous.

“I’m grateful for Job Corps because I really feel like it’s going to make a great change in my life.”