My job corps experience as a mentally ill person

Recently threw away my job corps cleaning certificate( my home had a toilet overflow situation ) and now feeling bad about it and don’t know how to get it back cuz it’s been so long I don’t think they have my data base now ( I am now crying over it )

I went I before I turn 25 to Paul Simon Job Corps

I went in because I struggle to find a job and wanting to get a stable job, had horrible relationship with my mom so I went there and studied pharmacy technician

I was hesitate at first because most people over there are younger than me , I had a college degree . I didn’t live on Campus because they had curfews and I am afraid i couldnt buy stuff ( I have severe ocd and had to change toothbrush everytime I brush my teeth ) and I also have fear of other people smell my poop or smell other peoples poop so I had a problem going to the bathroom at the same time ( the stalls were not enough ,only 3 to 4 stalls for entire building I remember so I always had a bathroom pass to go there during class time

Our daily lives consists of studying and those who studies fast and past the test past graduated fast . I always past every single test , studied very very hard . And before the test the teacher will discuss important points about the test we will study . Mostly is self paced . You got to ask the teacher when you have some questions

I passed the reading TABE test , not the Math one and find out I can not ever be in the military due to being on antidepressant :( ( which I actually wanted to )

I actually met some cool people . Well there was a trio ( a sister and a brother and his cousin ) borrowed 11 bucks from me for snacks ( didn’t turn them back ) but overall it’s pretty chill . No crazy students , just some are lazier than others . There are periods that we get to talk but we couldnt be on our phone for the whole day so it gets pretty boring . School starts from either 9 or7 to 2 to 3 ish I don’t remember

The food tastes very good actually . They had fried chicken , ice cream , pies , they switch about awhile but I had huge constipation problems from the food because suffering from IBS most foods are fast food and very greasy , which made me had huge constipation problem lasts for days ( they should have some veggies and fruits I wish ) but it’s better than high school food

Pay was 25 every two weeks ( not enough ) and being almost 25 I definitely not satisfy with only 25 and I always tried to get a weekend job( me and moms relationship didn’t improve and I regret not staying at dorm I should have stayed )

But coming from college ( that you go to the bathroom whenever you want ), and take classes whenever you want this definitely was a challenge for me especially suffering from OcD . And apparently someday they decided that was a problem and gave me a letter told m that I need to see a therapist for three times before I can come back

The schedule was a bit rigid ( Monday to Friday ) and I have doctors appointments ( being the older crowd , we get sick more often ! ) and also being 25 and only have 25 per week definitely is a huge problem thinking about I have to be there 2 more years with no money

I actually liked the atmosphere and I like to study . Just wished they could pay more I went to see a therapist more than three times and during those times I have been calling them all the times by no one ever picks up , or don’t transfer me to the right department and I could never get to some one about when to be back . They said I should able to be back since I enrolled before I turned 25 but after that I finally get to someone one day and they told me now I am 25 now I can not enroll again

I made some friends , and one of them became a pharmacy tech for awhile and decided to switch careers . I like that they provide a safe place for young adults who struggle with living and family situations , but I didn’t like that such rigid schedule , low pay , long day studying . I wish it’sa more flexible schedule that we can take part time jobs on the side since the program is very long and we are adults we need money lol and being 25 with no money definitely made me felt a lot of Shame and not able to fit in

And living on campus I couldnt do it cuz they also had curfews , which panicked me about I couldn’t go get my cleaning supplies before curfew and couldnt get a part time job so I live off campus but I also lived very far and sleeping was an issue

My program is more organized but I had a friend who was in the computer program , she said they had no teacher for awhile and forced to learn everything themselves . And I think it is unprofessional . Basically just wasting her time and I was there for 2 to 3 months I think ? And all those times they didn’t have a teacher

My school Paul Simon at Chicago they had CNA, Pharmacy Tech , Computer , and Carpentry ( they had something else like construction related but u forgot what ) Pharmacy Tech was the only one that fits me ( since I struggle with contamination OCD so I can never do CNA and hearing computer tech had no instructor definitely not a good fit

It actually ignite my interest at Pharmacy Tech . I think it’s more useful than college . I went to college for 4 years at UiUC with a psychology degree and had huge trouble finding jobs ( my first job was in cosmetics , anyone can do lol

And I like that they actually make you learn what you can to get the job in that field ( in college you have to learn a lot of gen Ed stuff that has nothing to do with your major to graduate

But the long hours , lack of flexibility for people with physical / mental illness , low pay and rigid rules and lack of organization is really made me very sad . Especially I actually wanted to go back to. I am a good student and I always top scored on quizzes and everytime I call always no response or reach over wrong department or they say they will call me back . And I basically get kicked out for having OcD and needing to much accommodations ( mostly due to bathroom breaks at different times )

I am 30 now got a job at the county In Las Vegas . Got my disability check and honestly if I got one back then I will definitely do them again at dorm if I don’t have to worry about money but yeah I wish they done it more organized and have schedule that are more flexible weather if you live on campus or off campus