A Mission Moment

Below is a winning essay that was written by a Goodwill of Greater Washington graduate as part of a contest organized by our Training & Employment Division. Each contestant was asked to write an essay describing how Goodwill has impacted their lives and how a new computer would help further their career ambitions. The winner would receive a laptop computer generously donated by Jim and Gladys Lisanby.

How Goodwill Has Changed My Life

By Kiran Khan
Bank Skills Training Alumni
Cycle 11

When I was a child, my dad wrote a sentence in my school notebook: “enter to learn and out to serve.” As the time passed, I entered in many institutes and learned different things but could not give out. When I heard about Goodwill from one of my friend, I decided to give it my last shot and tried my luck once more.

From the start, I smelled the difference. Finally, I felt that I was at the right place, the method of teaching, the material and the class environment was very professional. After attending the class for couple of weeks my friends and family observed the difference in my personality, I was changing, the way I talked, the way I behaved, the way I dressed, was all different from before. I was in transition from an undisciplined to a discipline life. At Goodwill, I leaned professional and office etiquettes. Before that, I used to work at a cart in a mall and had no idea about working in an office. Goodwill taught me all the manners that are needed to work at a professional environment.

Before going to Goodwill, I always wondered about what happens behind the counter at banks. I wanted to know about every thing tellers do whenever I went to a bank for transactions. Then one day I decided to work at a bank. I applied in different banks but was not able to obtain a bank position. This was mostly because of lank of knowledge that I had with the addition to my bad interview skills. Goodwill not only gave me behind the counter insight, but also granted me with the skills to pass interviews.

Using the skills from Goodwill I was appointed at United Bank as a teller, before I even graduated. Even though I was interviewed twice, however, unlike before, this time, I was able to keep myself calm and answered each question with confidence thought out the interview process. Furthermore, when I was told that I had passed the interview process and I can start my United Bank training, which was the happiest day of my life. With widened lips and shrunk eyes, I left the interview room. I had been waiting for quite sometime for this moment. Moreover, this moment only came true because of the hard work that Goodwill's Bank Skills Trainer: David Amorose did.

The major change in my life brought by Goodwill is that I know where I am headed and what my goal is. I have moved from a sales girl at a local mall to a bank teller. This job has opened new horizons of professional life for me and now I can see a vast potential in this industry. My goal is to move up in this industry with one-step at a time. In the same way, my personal life has changed too. Unlike before, I have started taking more responsibilities and I developed very serious ambitions and goals about my life. Now as I have become more ambitious, there is a lot to be accomplished in order to achieve my goals. First-step is to start back school. I was studying accounting at a community college however, because of high tuition I ended up missing couple semester. Now that I am making twice as much as I used to, I have decided to start my studies. However, working full time, I will not be able to attend classes, and for that reason, I have planned to take online courses. These courses require a computer in addition to basic knowledge, which I will also need to advance in my career. Practice is the best way to learn anything, including computer application. Therefore, I have been desperately looking for a computer so that I can make further advancement in my education, career and of course, better life.

Goodwill has given me a new dimension of life. I have learned how to behave professionally and responsibly, both in personal and professional life. It has enabled me to get a new job and enter a new world of opportunities. I will always to thankful to this institute and its instructors. In addition, after seeing my successful training experience, my younger siblings are also planning to attend this institute in summer. Moreover, I am confident that Goodwill continues to make lost dreams come true by “Building Dignity Through Work for the Disadvantaged and Disabled.”