Back in 2015, Raquel was hired as the office manager at Delta Scrap & Salvage. Ken Graunstadt, the owner of the local business, had long been a supporter of Opportunity Junction (OJ). At that time, Raquel was the one writing the donation checks on the company’s behalf.
“That was the first I heard of Opportunity Junction,” she recalled. “I admired the work they were doing, but I had a job I loved and I never imagined I would one day need their services.”
When she went on maternity leave with her son, Raquel made the difficult decision to leave her job. As a single mom of two young children, she realized her paycheck would barely cover the cost of childcare. Though the choice wasn’t easy, she cherished the time with her children and discovered the value in her full-time role as a mother. But as she devoted herself to her kids, she began to lose touch with herself—and her mental health started to suffer.
As her son approached school age, Raquel was determined to do something for herself—something that would ultimately change the trajectory of all their lives.
It was a full-circle moment when she remembered Opportunity Junction from her former workplace and decided to enroll in their administrative careers training (ACT) program. She entered with a solid foundation in computer skills, but after years of negative self-talk and doubt she found the life skills classes to be her biggest challenge.
“Growing up, I had always lacked self-confidence,” she shared. “In school, I remember being scared to speak up in class or give presentations.”
Throughout the program, her instructors recognized her professionalism, positive attitude, and strong attention to detail. “The only thing holding her back was her lack of confidence—which she was determined to overcome,” her professional development instructor noted.
Raquel explained her motivation: “I wanted to do the hard things so my kids wouldn’t end up lacking confidence like I did.” And she did just that.
Raquel earned all three Microsoft Specialist certifications, graduated alongside her classmates, and was quickly hired by DeNova Homes as an office coordinator. Since being hired, Raquel has received multiple raises and a promotion—she is now their purchasing coordinator!
“OJ helped me gain the confidence to go into an interview and start down this new path,” she said.
Now, her daughter is earning straight A’s, taking advanced classes, and involved in extracurricular activities. Her son is thriving in elementary school and gained his own confidence right alongside his mom.
“Before, I could only take my kids to places like the library for free activities,” she explained. “Now we have a little bit of wiggle room—for a special reward when they do a good job! My children are happier because they see me happier. They realize how much my training at Opportunity Junction has helped our entire family.”
The future is bright for Raquel. She’s thriving in her role, continues to learn from her coworkers, and is grateful for her boss and the family-first culture at DeNova Homes. The company’s president continues to give her new opportunities to learn and grow, and Raquel hopes to continue climbing the ladder within her division.
