Everything seemed to be going okay. Ryan had a full time job and a busy family life. But then Ryan lost his job and all of the personal struggles he had faced for years came to the surface.
He spiraled into a deep depression, and everything seemed to be falling apart. At some point Ryan decided that he needed to start moving forward. He sought out help for his mental health challenges, and enrolled in Pathways Skill Development’s CTT (Construction Technology Training) program. This course offered him a refresher in the skills he needed while running his own business, and expanded his knowledge into new areas.
Ryan made it his mission to attend class each day, be present, and give it his all. He showed up. And not only did he show up for his classes, he showed up for himself. By the end of the 9 week session, Ryan had so impressed his course facilitator and co-op manager that he was hired by a company before graduation. He eventually moved to BuildWorks, a social enterprise run by Pathways Skills Development. Now he supports other staff struggling with barriers to meaningful employment.
This fall, through his employment at BuildWorks, Ryan was able to put a down payment on a house, and this spring Ryan and his fiancé welcomed a new baby into their family – everything now more secure than it had been a few years ago.
Watch this video to learn more about Ryan’s story!
