Summer Job Helps Young Woman Build Confidence, Leadership Skills 

September 15, 2025

Mercy Home provides young people with opportunities to learn and practice important skills that will benefit them in a future career, like communication, punctuality, and other key employment basics. 

During the summer months, many of our young people are able to put these skills to the test through jobs, internships, and apprenticeships. This helps them prepare for their futures and learn how to manage their personal finances. 

“The teachers that worked with her praised her,” Carey said. “She offered them support in any way, shape, or form, and [is] really punctual. She’s everything [we think of when] we want our youth to show us what they can do.” 

Throughout the summer, Ilianna’s social skills and work ethic blossomed. 

“Ilianna breaks things down to the youth in a way they would understand,” said Carey. “They really listened to her and tapped into [what she had to say].” 

In addition, Ilianna gained critical lessons and experience to help her academically and socially. 

“[I learned] that I can be very patient” Ilianna said. “[And] I’m actually very helpful.” 

Ilianna worked hard to build trust and healthy relationships with her peers, which made it easy for the other youth to feel comfortable expressing their feelings to her. 

“I just try to make sure they’re doing their best at all times,” she said. “I also try to meet them where they’re at.” 

She credits some of our coworkers for modeling healthy conflict resolution and communication.   

“[Ilianna] is such a leader to the youth [and] it’s amazing to see,” Carey said. “She redirects the youth [into a more positive frame of mind] and you can see them take it as a mentor [talking to them].” 

Ilianna breaks things down to the youth in a way they would understand,

Lupe Carey, education and career resources coordinator at Mercy Home

Her leadership also made a positive impact on the young women participating in our Summer Enrichment program, a slate of fun outings and activities designed to keep our kids engaged in learning throughout the summer months. Illianna has been an advocate for other youth in the program, according to Carey. “When she sees bullying, she talks to the youth and [will say], ‘hey that’s not cool [or] that’s not nice.’” 

Before coming to the Home, Ilianna struggled in school and did not have a healthy dynamic with her family. But the Home has fostered her growth and development, personally and academically. 

And since she began her new job, she believes the skills that she’s learned will help her this school year and prepare her for her future career as a pediatrician. 

“[Being] patient, mature, and helpful [are skills I want to take with me in life],” Ilianna said. “I’m going to push myself very hard this school year, and make sure that I have everything that I need to get done.” 

Carey has noticed Ilianna’s growth as a person since the start of her new job and believes she has a newfound confidence to thrive this school year. 

“This taught her how to take herself more seriously, how to present herself to people, so they can take her seriously, Carey said. “[This summer], she has shown us that she has[many] skills. She just needed a platform to show them off.” 

Ilianna’s future looks bright as she enters her junior year of high school. She plans on pushing herself this year in order to achieve the goals she has set for herself. Thanks to the confidence and skills that she built through her summer job, and the encouragement of our generous donors, we know she’ll excel.