“I have my independence again.”
The following is told by Cara graduate Amira, June 2023 Cohort.
“Before Cara, I was at the lowest point in my life. I got laid off in 2020 because of the pandemic, and I was never able to recover after that. I had a lot of family issues going on, my mental health was declining, and I struggled with substance abuse. I was unmotivated, depressed, and had just lost hope. I needed to forgive myself for my past and take responsibility for my future – but I couldn’t do it alone.
“I was trying to basically rebuild and move forward with my life.
“I first heard about Cara in June 2023 while I was at SisterHouse. I met one of Cara’s trainers, Miss Vicki, and her personality and vibe were so welcoming.
“I’m not the type of person to give up or fail at things. This period of my life was so out of character for me, and Miss Vicki saw through all of that. She believed in me, and it was refreshing to have somebody believe in me after such a long time of doubts.
“I didn’t know anything about Cara before I joined, but the staff was easy to connect with and the more I went to Motivations, the more I got into it. Before I knew it, I was looking forward to waking up and starting my day with Motivations!
“Cara was more to me than professional training and job resources, the classes at Cara helped me heal my life. I have mended a broken relationship thanks to Cara. That wouldn’t have happened without my trainer and Cara’s help.
“When I got a temp job through Cara Connects, that’s when things really started to come back together for me. Just getting used to going to work again and the routine of having a job made me feel more ready for my permanent job when I got it.
“In August 2023, Cara helped me get my permanent job as a Patient Access Specialist at Northwestern Medicine. Once I got my job, everything else started falling into place. My relationships with my family and friends got better, I got my own apartment, and I’m getting ready for the next phase of my life.
“This past August, I celebrated my one-year anniversary at Northwestern. I love my job and I’m really interested in learning more about the administrative side of the medical field. I’m now on track to be in a leadership role, and I want to stay at Northwestern for as long as possible.
“Most importantly, I have my independence again. Now I’m not just surviving. Cara helped me rebuild and find my sense of purpose. I can finally move forward with my life.“
Your support this season makes an immediate, impactful difference in the lives of Cara’s job seekers. Transform a life this Season of Giving at www.caracollective.org/give.
