When Jacob O. was 19, his grandmother brought him to Santa Maria Community Services because she believed he could find direction here. He was young, unsure of his path, and looking for a way to build something more stable for himself.
Jacob started by filling out paperwork and connecting with Santa Maria’s Workforce Development program. Through that program, he first worked with Kayla, who helped him get involved with Search Collective, an opportunity that came at exactly the right time. When that program ended, Jacob began working with Angela, his case manager, who helped him think through what might come next.
Together, Jacob and Angela explored different career paths at CityLink Center. Construction seemed like a good fit at first, but Jacob’s interest began to shift. He had been spending time fixing his car and following automotive content online. What started as curiosity became something clearer. Jacob realized he was drawn to mechanical work.
With Angela’s support, Jacob enrolled in Changing Gears’ Automotive Technician Training Program. There, he earned his certification, strengthened his skills, and found new confidence in what he was capable of doing. Soon after graduation, he was hired at Jeff Wyler Honda.
Now 22, Jacob is working in a field that energizes him and helps him keep building toward the future he wants. He is meeting his goals, learning along the way, and proving to himself that he can do more than he once imagined.
“If I could have done this earlier, I would have,” Jacob said. “I came so far that I wouldn’t have even believed it. We go over my goals and I accomplished everything. I was putting goals on there that I didn’t even know I could do.”
For Jacob, the journey has been about more than finding a job. It has also been about having someone in his corner. Angela’s steady support helped him open up about personal challenges, set goals, and keep moving forward. When asked what Angela helps him with, Jacob said, “It’s easier to say what she doesn’t help with.”
Jacob’s story shows what can happen when determination meets the right support. His grandmother helped him take the first step. Jacob kept showing up. And today, he is building a career and a life he can be proud of, one goal at a time.