At 17 years old, Ledwin embarked on a life-changing journey when he and his family moved from Puerto Rico to the United States to start fresh in a new country in early 2023. He began attending the local high school and encountered challenges of adjusting to a new culture and navigating workforce barriers with a limited proficiency in English that made finding employment difficult.

As graduation approached, Ledwin was uncertain about his future, without any work experience and unclear on a career path. During this time, his high school’s career counselor introduced him to PA CareerLink® Lehigh Valley’s services to help young adults explore education, training, and employment opportunities. With this guidance, Ledwin visited PA CareerLink® Lehigh Valley in July 2023 and enrolled in the WIOA Out-of-School Youth (OSY) program.

From the start, Ledwin was shy and soft-spoken, but determined to better himself. He attended career readiness workshops, where he honed employability skills such as resume writing, interview techniques, financial literacy, and networking. 

Interested in mechanics and in need of experience, the PA CareerLink® Lehigh Valley Youth Work-Based Training Developer set Ledwin up with a Paid Work Experience (PWE) at B.A. Autos Inc., a local auto mechanical service business, in August 2023. He worked as a General Services Assistant, managing customer service tasks and shadowing experienced auto technicians. Despite his shyness, Ledwin’s work ethic and eagerness to learn stood out, leading B.A. Autos to extend his work experience.

With a newfound dream for a hands-on career, Ledwin explored training programs and enrolled in the Diesel Technician program at Lehigh Career & Technical Institute (LCTI) in September 2023. Balancing training and work was no easy feat, and his PA CareerLink® Lehigh Valley Career Counselor provided him with gas cards to help him travel between training and work, ensuring he had the resources to succeed. In February 2024, Ledwin completed his training three weeks ahead of schedule. 

While searching for full-time employment, he encountered new industry hiring practices surrounding age and experience. Ledwin worked closely with his PA CareerLink® Lehigh Valley Recruiter, who partnered with NFI Industries, a long-standing CDL employer, to create an On-The-Job Training (OJT) opportunity specifically for him. This was groundbreaking, as NFI focused on hiring CDL drivers. With mock interviews to help build his confidence, Ledwin secured the OJT in August 2024, earning $20 per hour.

Ledwin’s performance at NFI impressed his trainers and supervisors, noting his trustworthiness, motivation, and eagerness to learn. By November 2024, Ledwin successfully completed his OJT and was offered a permanent position as a Diesel Technician, with a raise to $25 per hour on the horizon. Reflecting on his journey, Ledwin shared, “CareerLink helped me a lot to choose the career I wanted and to find a great job.”

Ledwin is a testament to the power of resilience, determination, and the right support system. From a young man unsure of his path, he grew into a confident professional with a bright future ahead, proving that with hard work and the right opportunities, anything is possible. As a final flourish, Ledwin was recently selected as this year’s PWDA Governor’s Achievement Award winner – a well-deserved honor celebrating his dedication, growth, and success.