04/10/2025
Jake Freeman’s Continued Journey: From Uncertainty to Career Focus Through Paid Work Experience
Jake Freeman enrolled in the Gateway Youth Program in Ripley, MS, seeking guidance and direction after dropping out of high school. Unsure of how to move forward, Jake knew he needed to obtain his High School Equivalency (HSE) but didn’t know where to start.
Through one-on-one career counseling, the Gateway Career Coach helped Jake identify his goals and explore his interests. While Jake was interested in several different occupations, he wasn’t sure which path to pursue. To help him discover his strengths and opportunities, the career coach recommended he enroll in the Smart Start course for career discovery, as well as adult education classes to prepare for HSE attainment.
Jake embraced this advice, completing the Smart Start course and successfully passing his first HiSET subtest, putting him on track toward earning his HSE. Recognizing his enthusiasm for hands-on learning, the Gateway Career Coach encouraged Jake to participate in a paid work experience to gain on-the-job training and exposure to various career paths.
Dees Oil, a transportation and energy company in Ripley, MS was chosen as Jake’s internship worksite due to its diverse operations. During his internship, Jake has explored multiple job sectors, including energy, transportation, warehousing, information technology, distribution, and construction. This experience has allowed him to observe and participate in several aspects of the company’s operations.
After completing twelve weeks of paid work experience, Dee’s Oil retained Jake as a permanent employee working on their work crew and gave him a 2$ per hour raise. He has been working full-time for the company for a month now and is loving the job he worked so hard to obtain.
