Starting over in a new career is never easy, but help from the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) made the change much smoother for Carolyn Stamper of Grayson.

A messy, difficult divorce and the sale of the family photography business had left Carolyn in a tough spot. As part of the settlement she had signed a non-competition agreement that said she would not work in photography, sales, or marketing—the fields she had spent most of the last two decades honing her skills in.
A career change was, legally, her only option.

“I had to make a change,” Carolyn said, emphasizing the word “had.”

With her two boys in tow, Carolyn retreated to the Carter County family farm where she grew up. Going back to farm life was a spiritual renewal for Carolyn and a break from the hectic past few years for her kids.

“It was just simple living. We needed that,” Carolyn said.

Through lots of prayer and her family’s support, Carolyn realized that she had never planned for photography and sales to be her life’s work.

“In the back of my high school yearbook I said I wanted to go to Morehead State University, major in history, and come back to teach history in this area. I decided it was time to get back to my dream,” Carolyn said.

Carolyn enrolled in Kentucky Christian University, then transferred to Morehead after a year. She loved her studies and her kids thought it was neat that mom had homework too, she said with a smile.

But with two children to take care of and no income coming in, her dream of teaching was threatened by the grim realities of financial limitations.

Childcare was a major problem for Carolyn until a friend at her daycare told her about the WIA program provided through Northeast Kentucky Community Action Agency in Olive Hill. Northeast CAA provides WIA services locally under contract with Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP), Inc, which administers WIA and the JobSight network of workforce centers in 23 mountain counties.

Carolyn went to Northeast and met with Melissa “Missy” Black, a WIA Global Career Development Facilitator, who gave
Carolyn advice and helped her get financial assistance with the costs of childcare, tuition and books.

Carolyn said that without the help she might not have been able to finish school.

WIA also helped Carolyn find a summer job last year through the WorkNow Kentucky summer jobs initiative. The temporary job helped her out financially and was flexible enough to accommodate her busy schedule.

Carolyn earned her degree in May and proudly attended her graduation ceremony.

“I thought I was going to bawl like a baby. My kids were screaming their heads off,” she said, laughing.
Carolyn is now trying to get a local teaching job and hopes to be at least a full-time substitute this school year. She is also continuing her education, seeking a master’s degree in teaching.

Missy said she was proud to see how much Carolyn has made of the opportunities she was given.

“I like to see my clients reach their goals,” Missy said.

Carolyn said he recommends the WIA program to anyone who needs career or training advice.

“Call Missy. I give her number out to so many people,” Carolyn said.

For more information about Workforce Investment Act services in Carter, Elliott and Lawrence Counties, call 286-4443. Or visit www.jobsight.org. Also find JobSight on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jobsight.