The students at Homestead Job Corps Center affectionately called fellow student Anthony Corley, 21, “Mr. Professional.”
A high school graduate, Corley came with his diploma in hand to study the Pharmacy Technician trade at Homestead Job Corps Center. Recently, he completed the program in just over eight months, and will soon take the National Certification Exam for Pharmacy Technicians.
He will be working in the stock room at Walgreens and realizes that it’s a steppingstone. He hopes to get a Pharmacy Technician internship with Walgreens once he starts Miami Dade College next month. He’s determined to succeed.
Success hasn’t always been easy for Corley. Prior to coming to Homestead Job Corps Center, he attended a community college in Tallahassee. He was having trouble balancing work, school and living on his own. Acollege professor encouraged Corley to join Job Corps to give him the push and assistance he needed to excel. With a residential living component, Job Corps teaches students independent living skills and each student is assigned a staff mentor.
Corely is grateful to his mentor, Coach Letter Parks, for the “many talks and words of encouragement and advice.”
Center director Anthony Taylor also made an impression on Corley.
“Mr. Taylor set a good example for me on how to work in the world of administration,” Corley said.
He said that it was most helpful during his term as Male Chief Justice for the Homestead Job Corps Center’s Student Government Association.
Tisha Holmes, Student Government Association advisor, said, “Anthony is extremely focused and is going to do great things. He’s definitely a leader; Anthony is a man of very few words, but he speaks loudly by his actions.”
Corley’s future plans include attending FAMU or FSU to become a pharmacist. He originally is from Tallahassee and moved here to attend Homestead Job Corps Center. His mother and grandmother back in Tallahassee gave Corely love and support along the way.
“Each day here at Homestead Job Corps Center, I strived to make them proud of me,” Corley said. “By joining the Student Government and JUMP [a military preparation program at Homestead Job Corps Center] I showed them that I can be responsible, disciplined and focused. Most of all I learned that I’m important and kept my faith.”
Corley and other graduates will participate in the January Homestead Job Corps Center Graduation Ceremony to take place in the Auditorium of Homestead Job Corps Center, 12350 SW 285 St. Friends, relatives and community members are invited to attend.
