Parade Gardens resident steps into a brighter future

At 25, Amanda Hendricks is learning to see herself differently.

The Parade Gardens resident once kept mostly to herself, avoided social situations and found it difficult to open up to people.

Today, she has been employed for more than a year, has grown more comfortable in the workplace and is pursuing plans to further her education.

For Hendricks, getting a job was about more than earning a salary. It meant confronting fears that had kept her withdrawn and taking a step into a world she had often found uncomfortable.

That step came with help from Project STAR, which supports social and economic development in underserved communities.

Through the programme’s job-placement support, Hendricks was encouraged to apply for jobs and attend interviews, even when she was hesitant. But one project representative continued to push her.

“I told him I wasn’t going anywhere, but he said I should go and then get back to him and tell him how it went,” Hendricks recalled.

She eventually went to an interview for a security position with the Shipping Association of Jamaica.

About a week later, she received an unexpected call. She had been hired.

The transition into the workplace was not easy. Hendricks had to adjust to meeting new people, working in an unfamiliar environment and managing the anxiety that came with stepping beyond her comfort zone.

She said members of the Project STAR provided her with the reassurance she needed.

“They never gave up on me. They never made me feel less than. They never made me feel like a burden,” she said.

More than a year later, Hendricks says she is much more comfortable in her role. She speaks warmly of her supervisor and colleagues and says she has taken on additional responsibilities as her confidence has grown.

The job has also brought greater stability to her household. With a regular income, Hendricks is able to contribute to her family’s needs, provide for her two children and make plans for the future.

Her ambitions now extend beyond her current job. Hendricks has enrolled in a maritime-related course and has her sight set on further studies.

“My goal right now is to expand myself,” she said. “I’m ready to push myself towards it.”

Project STAR head of programmes, Sharise Staines-Appleby, says Hendricks’ progress shows that getting someone into a job is only part of the process.

“What is particularly commendable is that she has not only secured employment but has maintained her job and continued to grow in the role. That speaks to her determination and willingness to push beyond the challenges she faced,” said Staines-Appleby.

For Hendricks., the continued encouragement helped make the difference between getting a job and finding the confidence to remain in it.

She now hopes others who are hesitant to seek help will be willing to take a chance on themselves.

“Don’t be afraid to ask for any type of help. And don’t be afraid to be yourself,” she said. “There’s no point in holding back yourself when there’s an opportunity there to help you grow within yourself and within your life.”