A few weeks ago Rochelle invited me to attend the graduation ceremony of her employer’s twelve-week management program. She was one of the graduates, and I was honored by the invitation. I asked how long she had now been with this well thought of grocery store chain. She proudly answered “ten years” and pointed to the new 10 year pin on her name badge. She had attended the same training program six years ago, but her eldest daughter, then a senior in high school, had run away from home to live with her boyfriend. Domestic problems quickly became Rochelle’s focus. She didn’t think she was mentally in the right place then to lead a team of employees when she had major problems at home. She had asked to step down from management. Now things were different. The runaway daughter is again living at home, still with the same boyfriend, though the boyfriend has his own nearby apartment. The daughter continues to behave badly, but is working and soon to be twenty-one. She takes the younger children to and from school when Rochelle can’t and contributes financially to the household somewhat.
Rochelle’s company had asked her why she was again interested in management. She answered that she had never lost interest but had to focus on her family six years ago. That made sense to them. She needed to go back through the training program since much had changed over the years due to the pandemic and technology. Rochelle has spent the last few years in the company’s “e-store” division. She was an hourly supervisor on their curbside pickup team when she again entered their management program this past January. On graduation from the program she was promoted to Assistant Manager of Curbside Pickup for one of their stores. She got a significant raise and the opportunity to continue advancing with the company. Rochelle is again on a path that is moving forward.
The graduation was held on a Thursday morning. It wasn’t held on the weekends or in the evenings because those are the stores’ busiest times. I was very honored to be one of two people Rochelle could invite. Her eldest daughter was invited but didn’t attend. I met some of the training staff and a couple of her friends from the graduation class. There were six speakers. All were upper management in the company, and all were very impressive. They spoke directly to the graduates and not to the audience. This company is well known for its ability to take people from difficult backgrounds and to mentor them into careers with advancement possibilities within its stores. I actually found myself almost in tears as I listened to the speeches. The focus was on the barriers that these graduates had faced and overcome in their lives. The speakers also stressed how important it was for each of the graduates to take care of themselves first. This is what Rochelle had done when she had stepped back from management six years ago.
Rochelle’s two younger children are now teenagers. Her mother died last October and her eldest child now lives at home again. There are still many problems but life again looks up. With her recent promotion Rochelle is finally off all government assistance, she has finished management school with her company, and she has again been promoted. She has continued to move forward and is rightfully very, very proud of herself. As am I. At her graduation ceremony Rochelle was very, very happy.
Rochelle's World 