Antonio enrolled at Academy of Hope because he wanted to get his GED. “It was time for me to tighten up,” he says. By the time he crossed the graduation stage—one day shy of his 29th birthday—Antonio had not only earned his diploma but he had also landed a full time job at Hyatt Place Hotel through AoH’s Career Academy!

Like most learners at AoH, Antonio’s educational journey wasn’t a straight line. He left Ballou High School in 2008 while in the eleventh grade because of the environment there and the surrounding neighborhoods. “Someone was actually shot and killed inside the school,” he remembers. A few years later, he started attending Maya Angelou Public Charter School but the cost of transportation proved to be a barrier for him, and he didn’t like being around the younger student population. In 2015, Antonio found AoH while searching for a GED program in DC. He started classes that spring only to have to take a break a few months later due to personal issues. Two years later, AoH reached out to Antonio to encourage him to try again, and this time he was able to stay the course. He credits both the teachers and students for his success at AoH. “The students are more mature, so there aren’t too many distractions,” he says. “And the teachers make sure everyone is learning. Even though people are moving at different paces, they make sure everyone is learning.”

Shortly after Antonio re-enrolled, AoH launched new career academies focused on connecting learners to three high-demand industries: hospitality, healthcare and office administration. Antonio says the Hospitality Career Academy piqued his interested “because it would benefit me in the long run to get a trade certificate and eventually a job. Everyone was saying it was a good program, and one of the teachers, Rustin Moore, was a general manager at Hyatt, so if you did well, you might get a job with him.” Antonio quickly found that he enjoyed learning the ins and outs of hospitality. “We learned how it works and how to treat guests when they come to the hotel.” He notes that learning from Rustin was “helpful because it was hands on. Rustin is there every day dealing with guests and the staff, so he could share his first-hand experience.”

It wasn’t too long before Antonio earned some of that first-hand experience himself. As part of the Career Academy program, learners were able to participate in an externship at Hyatt Place. For a few weeks, they rotated through the various roles at the hotel: maintenance, front desk, food and beverage, and housekeeping. Antonio’s performance in class and throughout the externship caught the attention of Hyatt Place, and he was soon offered a full time job in the housekeeping department. So far, Antonio says, he’s loving it. “I think this is the perfect place for me. I like dealing with guests and the staff there. It’s like a big family because everyone works together, takes care of each other, and takes care of guests. I’m not normally an outgoing person, but interacting with guests makes me a more social person and I like it.”

When asked why adult education is important, Antonio answers it’s because adult education “gives people an opportunity to go back and finish school. Because it’s never too late. People sometimes make mistakes, and they have to come back and deal with the mistakes they made. This is the perfect program for them to come back and make it right. It’s the first step to getting back to where you’re supposed to be. AoH gives you the platform to get your life together. It’s a place to start.”

Indeed, Antonio is just getting started. With his diploma now in hand and full time employment under him, Antonio is ready to achieve his next set of goals like earning a promotion, moving into his own place and buying a car.