In this month's episode, Jill interviews Casio Manley, a 17-year-old student who recently earned his Illinois high school diploma through the YouthBuild program. Casio talks about his journey in the program, from initially struggling with focus and motivation, to developing mental toughness, setting goals, and persevering through obstacles to pass his GED exams. Tune in to discover how YouthBuild provided Casio a supportive, family-like environment for him to gain skills, and work towards his ultimate passion of opening his own automotive shop one day.

In this episode, we sit down with Melissa McKay, a graduate of the Illinois High School Diploma program and current nursing student at Lewis and Clark Community College. Melissa shares her journey of overcoming personal challenges, including being a young mother, battling addiction, and navigating relationships, to pursue her education and dream of becoming a nurse. She also discusses the rigors of the nursing program, the importance of perseverance, and how her faith has been a guiding force in her life.

In this episode, you'll hear from BreAnna Buchanan, a recent graduate of the Illinois High School Diploma program from Lewis and Clark Community College in Greene County. BreAnna openly shares her story of facing addiction, losing custody of her son, and working hard to rebuild her life. She talks about earning her diploma while working at the Greene County Health Department as a recovery navigator, using her own experiences to support others on similar paths. She also highlights the key role support systems played in her journey and how gaining an education boosted her confidence and self-esteem.