Success Story: Alfonso Velez

Alfonso Velez, a 24-year-old System Analyst at Fordham University, always knew he wanted to work with computers. What he didn’t know was how difficult it would be to do so without a high school diploma. He dropped out of high school in his senior year.

Alfonso received a letter in the mail at his mother’s Bed-Stuy apartment from The Way to Work (previously know as VFI). He taught himself how to use computers but he didn’t have his GED and he didn’t have work experience.

“I knew what I wanted to do and saw The Way to Work as a stepping stone towards it,” Alfonso said.

He enrolled in The Way to Work’s computer technology training in spring 2005. He said that The Way to Work’s approach was unique compared to other organizations in that the staff was a lot more open and willing to help and reach out. One particular person that was persistent was his career manager, Stacie Bethea, with whom he still keeps in touch with today even though his retention services ended two years ago. Although he considered himself a “lazy individual” he never thought of quitting, partly because Stacie wouldn’t let him.

“Ms. Bethea was always on top of me, never gave up on me-always pushed me so to speak. She was very open-minded, always available and went above her duties as a counselor,” he said.

After graduating and obtaining his GED, Alfonso continued to another computer training program and obtained a position as a network technician at a construction company. A year later, he became System Analyst for Fordham University. Alfonso, who is now married, has been attending college since January 2009. All of which he didn’t believe would have been possible at this stage in his life.

“Without The Way to Work, it would have taken me longer to be where I am today. The Way to Work provided me with a straight career path where as others would have been detours.”

“It was foolish of me to work so hard and then drop out, but I don’t regret my mistakes because you can’t live with regret. You just build up on it and learn from your mistakes.”