July 8, 2025 It’s tempting to take a job right out of high school, especially when the money is good. But Armando Melendez will tell you that a career is more important than a job. Armando graduated in 2021 and attended Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) for one year. He planned to study construction management, following somewhat in the footsteps of his father, who was a plumber. Unfortunately, that choice didn’t fit his skills or interests. “I started taking physics as part of my general education courses and I was not enjoying it,” Melendez said. “I lost my motivation and stopped attending class. Eventually I dropped out of school.” Armando found a job rebuilding transmissions for heavy duty trucks but that wasn’t really the answer either. “I was making good money but I couldn’t see a future there,” Melendez said. “I knew I was capable of doing more. I just didn’t know what or how.” Two things helped sharpen his focus and create a better plan for the future. “My father died, and that made me the head of the family,” Melendez said. “I realized I needed to put my big boy pants on and make a plan. I met a girl who worked at the Hispanic Center.     Her job was to help people get into college, and she offered to assist me if I wanted to go back.” She suggested that Armando consider the Leslie E. Tassell MTEC, and Armando liked the idea of studying to become a Computer Support Technician. That turned out to be harder than it sounded. Armando learned that making up for his earlier choices was going to take work. “Since I had dropped out, I wasn’t automatically accepted back at GRCC,” Melendez said. “I had to show them that I was serious about school. I had to take assessments and pass them. There were a lot of barriers and some nervous moments. But finally, I was able to start my program on January 27.” That wasn’t the end of his challenges. “The financial side of things became difficult,” Melendez said. “I knew I had to devote 100% of myself to school this time around. But with my dad gone, my family also needed financial support. So after five weeks of school, I went to a job fair and explored internships.” Armando secured an internship at Dewys Metal Solutions, and he says he was a bit stunned by his success. “I was competing against people who had a lot more experience than I did,”Melendez said. “The education I got in just five weeks at GRCC, plus the homework I did learning how to present myself, paid off. I got the job!” For Armando, the online program at GRCC has been more rewarding than he expected it to be. “Professor Ingram is great,” Melendez said. “I’m a hands-on learner and he does an amazing job of making an online course engaging and interactive. The information is clear. Best of all, I’m learning how to problem solve. Professor Ingram is teaching me the skills to succeed.” Now Armando is pushing hard to finish his Computer Support Technician Certificate, along with CompTIA A+ and Network+ certifications. It’s not easy. He attends class online in the morning and then works in the afternoon. He would love to continue working at Dewys, but says that he will have the knowledge he needs to pursue whatever career opportunities open up to him. So what has Armando learned from his experiences? “I’ve learned that it’s never too late to come back and do something for yourself,” Melendez said. "I’ve figured out how to stay focused, be more responsible and take things seriously, not just go through the motions. I also learned that asking for help isn’t a bad thing. I used to think I had to figure everything out on my own. Now I know it’s okay to lean on people when you need to do so. Going back to school wasn’t about undoing the past. It was about moving forward with a clearer purpose.” His advice to others stems from what he has learned. “Don’t compare yourself to others,” Melendez said. “I’m a first generation college student. It’s more of a struggle for me. I can’t compare myself to other people. They don’t know what I’m going through. I’m proud of the work I’ve done to get to this point. You have to use the resources that are available and be willing to learn.” Armando is also proud of how he has become a role model for his family. “My younger brother wanted to quit school and go to work,” Melendez said. “Now he’s watching me and changing his viewpoint. We’re both working hard at school.” At the end of the day, Armando has one final goal. “I want to make my mom and family proud, and let others know there are opportunities for everyone. You just have to go look for them.”  

July 2, 2025 Jarod VanNorman found the Water to Work internship program at a low point in his life. Now he’s employed, excited and ready to pay it forward. Jarod, like so many young adults, struggled to find a great career fit. “I dropped out of college because it wasn’t right for me,” VanNorman said. “I was working at a gas station, in a rut, thinking that this was my life and there wasn’t going to be anything else.” Fortunately for him and the City of Grand Rapids, that was not true. “My mom got a flyer about the Water to Work program,” VanNorman said. “I went to a meeting to check it out and realized this was my chance to do something different. So I took it.” Jarod started his internship in August 2024 and the work immediately grabbed his interest. “I’ve always worked in customer service-type jobs,” VanNorman said. “This was a world I knew nothing about. Everything fascinated me!” That included the mentorship component of the program, which was a totally new experience for Jarod. Hillary Caron, Water Education & Programs Coordinator for the City of Grand Rapids, says that the mentorship component is part of helping people find a way to be authentic and contribute their best. “The interns get to choose their mentors during a ‘speed dating’ type of event,” Caron said. “The mentors are in it to build relationships and make a connection for people who are entering a new industry. We want to create an environment where people feel like they can contribute and belong. It’s fun to see that many of the relationships created early on are still thriving.” Jarod chose veteran electrician Rob Scarbrough as his mentor. As someone who was an apprentice in the trades himself, Rob knows exactly how important this role is for a person who’s new to an industry. “I was fortunate enough to have good mentors in my life growing up,” Scarbrough said. “I enjoy working with apprentices, and thought the interns would offer a similar experience. They’re green as grass, but the good ones are moldable. They can learn to see the work as a career. Jarod is one of those good ones.” Jarod felt like he connected immediately with Rob. “I was going through some tough stuff at the time,” VanNorman said. “Rob seemed to genuinely care about my life outside of work as well as inside. It was nice to have someone to talk to, someone who was always in my corner. He also gave me great career advice. In fact, he’s the reason I have the job I do today.” Rob says Jarod is a great example of the kind of person this program can attract. “As Jarod was going through the program, he thought that being a field operator would fit his skills. I had a friend in that role, so I connected the two of them. Jarod is a hard worker and this was a perfect fit.” It didn’t take long for that dedication to earn Jarod a job offer with the City of Grand Rapids. In March 2025, he took on a full-time role as a utility field operator after only eight months of internship. “This is a huge blessing in my life,” VanNorman said. “I love everything about it. Not only did I get through the entire internship process without debt, I also found a job I really enjoy. I have no regrets. I’m so grateful to Rob for getting me this opportunity.” Rob is quick to diminish his role. “I only get 2% credit,” Scarbrough said. “All I did is make a connection. Jarod earned this job. But it’s awesome for me to see that he’s happy and doing a great job. Being part of a team changes lives. Jarod went from not knowing what he wanted to do, to finding a great career. The sky is the limit for him.” Now that he has experienced the mentor relationship, Jarod is eager to pay it forward. “This is the first time in my life I’ve felt like I’m doing something for other people and not just for myself,” VanNorman said. “If I could help just one person find the same joy I’ve found, then that would make a huge difference. I want to be that person for someone else.” The next cohort of the Water to Work program begins the week of August 25.  There is an information session on July 8 for prospective applicants to ask questions and learn more. The application process opened June 2 and will close July 15. Anyone over the age of 18 with a high school diploma or GED can apply. Applicants must also pass a background check and have reliable transportation to get them to the various water treatment facilities. Students work Tuesday through Thursday as paid interns at both the City of Grand Rapids Lake Michigan Filtration Plant and the Water Resource Recovery Facility. They also take classes to supplement their hands-on learning, with the course fees and tuition covered by the EPA grant. According to Hillary, success is easy to measure. “All 15 people who have come into the program now have jobs in the industry,” Caron said. “Just like Jarod, most students have jobs before completing all 52 weeks of the official program.” Jarod knows now that life is what you make of it. “I started from a flyer and a chance,” VanNorman said. “You have to be willing to put yourself out there with new experiences if you want a better outcome.”  Learn more about the Water to Work program and apply . Article reported by Julie Hordyk