GAINESVILLE, Fla. – When life dealt Ashley Woods an unfortunate hand, she still found a way to win.
Ashley had been a stay-at-home-mom until a split with her partner left her without financial support and without the experience she needed to get a job.
“I became a single mother,” she says. “I had to do what I had to do to get my life together so I could provide a better life for my daughter and I.”
Ashley’s mother worked for CareerSource NCFL back when they were known as Florida Works and recommended the career centers to her daughter. At the center, Ashley met Sheng Wood, her case worker.
Sheng heard that Ashley wanted to be a business owner and recommended that she enroll in the Own Your Future program, a 4-week course that teaches participants how to get started in business or become more employable through learning intrapreneurial skills.
“I liked it. I loved it, actually,” Ashley says. “You can’t ask for a better program.”
Ashley and her sister started a natural beauty business together, and Own Your Future gave her the skills she needed to succeed.
“In order to build a business, you have to step outside of your comfort zone,” she says. “You have to boost your confidence level.”
Today, Ashley is continuing with her classes to learn more about owning her own business. She gives Sheng credit for helping her reach her goals.
“I’ve had some obstacles that would have just made me give up, but she pushed it,” Ashley says.
She wants others to know that CareerSource NCFL and the Own Your Future program can go a long way towards helping someone who’s struggling. She’s a living example of what someone who’s been given a little boost can accomplish.
“They’re giving me the motivation, they’re giving me the confidence. They won’t let me give up,” Ashley says. “They are going to be by your side every step of the way.”