It’s the season of “Pomp and Circumstance.” For many of us, May and June mean graduation ceremonies and celebrations. From pre-school to university, we’re snapping photos of our favorite people in caps and gowns, celebrating this important moment. But many people at RecycleForce never experienced the thrill of graduation.
Today, they are working to change that.
Last year, RecycleForce began working with the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township to offer an in-house High School Equivalency (HSE) course. People in our program are able to take time off from the floor a few days each week to study through their coursework in order to receive their HSE diploma.
On Monday, May 9th, we celebrated our first HSE program graduate. Ms. Stephanie Miller started at RecycleForce in November 2021. She is 30 years old and served two years in prison where she gave birth to her baby daughter. When she first arrived at RecycleForce, Ms. Miller very intimidated and anxious about the road ahead of her. She had dropped out of school when she was 18, after getting involved with the wrong crowd. This started her down the path that led to her incarceration.
When Ms. Miller first started on our recycling floor, she had very little self-confidence and self-esteem. We have a saying at RecycleForce – “Work is Therapy” – and this rang true for Ms. Miller. As she began taking apart different electronics, she began to believe in herself again. It was time to start rebuilding her life. She had a core goal of earning her HSE diploma, not only for herself but for her young daughter.
Thanks to RecycleForce and the HSE program, Ms. Miller began to put her past in the rearview mirror. Our in-house professor, Dr. Query, applauded her work ethic, attitude, and persistence in studying. Although Ms. Miller did not have access to the internet or a computer off-site, she took every opportunity to participate in classes and study through the RecycleForce program. She was relentless in completing her goal, getting her HSE diploma and beginning the process of rebuilding her life. In May, she saw that dream come true.
What lies ahead for Ms. Miller? “I don’t have a crystal ball,” she said. She plans on completing some of the industry-recognized certifications we offer at RecycleForce to further her education. Most importantly, she is focused on being a loving, encouraging, and protective mother.
We celebrate Ms. Miller’s May graduation and are excited for all the employees who are working towards that same goal. Every month at RecycleForce, we have a certificate ceremony where we celebrate the different credentials our program members have received. For many of us, graduation ceremonies are just happy memories. For RecycleForce employees, they’re the beginning of a new world.