Young Men at College Internship Program Experience Employment Success

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Charlie and Jake are young men with something in common. Although they have never met and live on opposite sides of the country, they are good examples of how perseverance and hard work can lead to success in the workplace, despite having a learning difference.

Charlie

Charlie is a graduate of CIP Berkshire, a transition program for young adults with autism and learning differences. After earning an Associates Degree in exercise science from Berkshire Community College in Massachusetts, Charlie landed two jobs in his local community. He works in the facilities maintenance department at Berkshire Nautilus, a fitness facility, and in maintenance for the US Postal service in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He often works over 12 hours a day.

Charlie was raised in Maryland, but says he has developed a good life in Massachusetts and decided to stay in the area after graduating from CIP in 2015.

Diagnosed with ADHD, Charlie believes that CIP taught him not to be afraid to ask for help from others. “CIP helped me put my life in a good direction,” he commented. “I learned to make the most of my time and how to prioritize tasks. I also learned how to react in different social situations.”

Charlie is also an accomplished member of the 46ers hiking club and serves as a volunteer Appalachian Trail Monitor. He has successfully climbed 108 of the 115 mountains in the region with elevations of over 4,000 feet. His goal is to successfully climb all peaks.

Jake

Jake (pictured above) is a current student at CIP Berkeley, He works as a Sortation Associate at Amazon’s fulfillment and distribution center in South San Francisco, California. Jake works from 11 pm until 5 am four days a week where he sorts, diverts, and loads packages onto trucks in the dead of night.

“I don’t really mind the hours,” commented Jake. “I like making money and meeting new people,” he continued. “Sometimes a group of coworkers go out to breakfast after work and it’s pretty fun. I have met interesting people from around the world at my job."

Jake credits CIP with helping him create an appropriate cover letter and resume for his job search, as well as teaching him how to present himself in a professional manner.

He is also studying to become an EMT at Merritt College and would like to work as a first responder in medical emergencies. Diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and an auditory processing disorder, Jake has experienced a variety of challenges and has worked hard to find success. In his spare time, he likes playing the game Pathfinder with other students, watching comedies and police dramas.

Despite having a learning difference, Charlie and Jake’s accomplishments illustrate how success in the workplace can be achieved with hard work and the right attitude.

“Who you are today is not the end result of who you can be,” concluded Charlie. “You can always keep improving yourself.”

About College Internship Program

The College Internship Program is a comprehensive transition program for young adults on the Autism Spectrum and with Learning Differences. Our Mission is to inspire independence and expand the foundation on which young adults with Autism, ADHD, and other Learning Differences can build happy and productive lives.