In the fall of 2017, when Naomi needed to get a job, she found herself at a crossroads. The 50-year-old wasn’t sure she would ever work again, due to health issues.

But Naomi’s life and career journey started to turn around after she connected with Bestwill of Central Iowa’s skills training programs. These programs are tailored to help people develop the kind of specific, real-world skills they need to get or keep a job, through a combination of detailed instructions and hands-on experience.

When Naomi first connected with Bestwill in September 2017, she was dealing with several barriers to immediate employment. Transportation was challenging, as she didn’t have a driver’s license or own a car. Naomi also had a limited work history with long employment gaps, meaning she missed out on learning important skills, such as working a credit card machine. On top of that, her physical health issues were also a problem.

According to Duff, a career specialist at Bestwill of Central Iowa, the biggest barrier Naomi had to overcome was from within. “She said outwardly that she had all of this confidence and that she knew how strong a worker she was, but I don’t think she truly believed it herself.”

Thankfully, Naomi had plenty of people on her side to provide motivation and guidance. She originally started off in the food service training program but was eager to enter the retail skills program, since she had previously worked at the Salvation Army and Subway. When Naomi mentioned her interest in retail, Duff recognized that her go-getting attitude would be a perfect match for the program.

The seven-week retail skills training is a systematic program combining classroom instructions with on-the-job experience at a Goodwill store. As Naomi progressed and graduated from the program, she became more confident in her abilities.

Duff said it was great to see how Naomi grew into the devoted, driven worker she is today. “She has this strong desire, this longing to succeed. And she knows that she’s able to do that, although she has fallen short in the past.”

I remember that it was on a fall morning that the orchestra (管弦乐队) teachers came into Miss Newell’s third-grade classroom. “You have hands for the viola (中提琴),” Miss Ciano told me. I was excited because my hands were finally good at something. I told my parents I wanted to play, and naturally, they agreed.

Since I first touched the viola, I haven’t been able to put it down. Ignoring the difficulty, I am pulled closer to it each day.

Classical music is truly my best friend. It is the trusted friend of every man, woman and child. Various feelings are expressed in classical music. I discovered that when I was eleven and played a cello concerto (大提琴协奏曲) of Bach in a competition, the first movement was joyful, but the second movement was mysterious and full of pain. From that piece, I learn that music expresses not only feelings, but also sudden mood changes. By listening to classical music, I know that someone else shares these feelings. Since I am lucky enough to be able to play classical music, I am comforted by it when I am upset. It gives me a way to escape from my problems. Classical music can express my joy, sadness and anger.

Now looking back on that fall day in the third grade, I realize how gullible I was for believing that anyone, even music teachers, could tell whether hands were perfect for a certain instrument. I’m certain they told me that I had “viola hands” not because they were fortune-tellers (算命师), but because there was a lack of violists in our district. Classical music is one of the best things that ever happened to mankind. If you get introduced to it in the right way, it will become your friend for life.

My father really dislikes my stepfather, Mike, and is always calling him names, saying what a “good-for-nothing” guy he is. Mike knows about his name-calling because sometimes when my father comes to pick me up, he’ll say inconsiderate things right in front of my stepfather like, “Is what’s-his-name going to pick you up after the game, or am I supposed to bring you home?”

Even though it’s rude, my stepfather doesn’t hold it against my father. “I’ll pick up Shawn at 3:30,” he’ll answer. Nor does Mike make a big deal out of my father’s inconsiderate attitude towards him. He lets the comments go.

I ask my stepfather if the way my father treats him bothers or upsets him. “Oh, not really,” he says. “You don’t always have to be right, as long as you do what’s right.” My father’s taunts (嘲笑) don’t bother Mike because he likes himself. My dad’s opinion doesn’t change the way Mike feels about himself.

I really admire Mike. He’s so good to my mother. And what a good father he is to me! I appreciate all the things he does for me, like teaching me to throw a fastball and helping me with my homework without becoming impatient like my father does. Mike even volunteered at my school’s carnival (狂欢节) this year. No other stepfathers were there.

Though I would never tell my real father that I think my stepfather is one of the nicest guys I know, he is. I’m happy to make Mike my stepfather. Sometimes, I even call Mike “Dad” because he acts like a dad to me. In my eyes, my stepfather is a really great guy.