The tragic death of her husband in 2010 left Summer Ramos in a constant state of anxiety as she cared for her three children.
“Ever since he died, I was scared to leave my kids,” she shared. “I was the only parent – I always feared that if I was at work and they needed me, I wasn’t going to be there. And that affected me for many, many years.”
This anxiety contributed to her long-term unemployment along with physical and mental health issues. But as her children grew older, her family encouraged her to do something for herself.
Summer wasn’t sure where to turn for support when she came across a post in a Facebook group announcing enrollment for Opportunity Junction’s Administrative Careers Training (ACT) program. She took a screenshot, and after some deliberation, she applied and was offered a seat in the class.
“I was scared. I knew a little bit about Word, but nothing to what I know now,” Summer said.
She said the first week was a wonderful introduction to friendly staff and classmates. By the second week, however, the new material just wasn’t clicking.
“On my way home, I pulled over and cried because I felt so defeated,” she continued.
She decided to drop out and finished the drive home to go tell her kids. But when she delivered the news, her teenage daughters told her how much they believed in her and talked her out of quitting. Her parents offered their encouragement too.
“My dad was like, ‘You’re very smart. You can do anything.’ My whole family was supportive. It was amazing.”
Despite the tough curriculum, Summer began getting the hang of the material. She credited her perseverance to Opportunity Junction’s supportive staff and the strong bonds she formed with her classmates.
“We all were struggling in life, and so we just teamed up,” she said. “And we stuck it out together. I would not have made it through without these ladies.”
Summer was nearly to graduation when another tragedy struck her family – two weeks before the ceremony, she lost her father.
“OJ was there for me, told me to take off as much time as I needed,” she shared. “I went to the graduation ceremony and walked the stage with my class. I had everybody’s love and support. I did it.”
Inspired by the impact that Opportunity Junction had had on her, Summer knew she wanted to work for a nonprofit. When she learned from a fellow classmate that Shelter Inc. was hiring, she jumped at the opportunity to interview and later accepted a role as a program specialist, working to connect people in need with housing.
Based in Concord, Shelter Inc. currently serves Contra Costa, Solano and Sacramento counties with a mission “to prevent and end homelessness for low-income, homeless, and disadvantaged families and individuals by providing housing, services, support, and resources that lead to self-sufficiency.”
“Some of these people are sleeping in shelters, their cars, or couch-surfing, so when you call them and tell them, ‘Hey, come in for an intake appointment,’ they get really excited,” said Summer, who works directly with the residents in Contra Costa and Solano counties. “It’s nice to know that you’re really making a difference. Housing leads to a job. You have to have somewhere to sleep at night and to take a shower in the morning before you go to work. Just knowing that we’re doing that, it’s great.”
She also has found a workplace with a family atmosphere similar to the one she found while training at Opportunity Junction.
“It’s wonderful – my boss, my coworkers, my whole team. We’re all different, but we all bring something to the table, and we have a very good relationship,” she said, adding that she works with other Opportunity Junction alumni.
Summer looks back at her time with Opportunity Junction – the late night studying, the stress, the tears – and knows it was all worth it in the end.
“To walk across that stage and know that you did it – that was one of the greatest feelings.”
