When summertime hits, many youth in Central Florida are looking for something to do that might give them a little financial boost or work experience. That is where CareerSource Central Florida’s Summer Youth Program comes into play. Central Florida resident, Natalie Carpio is one of thousands of students across our region that has participated in CareerSource Central Florida’s Summer Youth Program and best of all, it landed her a “refreshingly cool” job in Apopka at The Coca-Cola Company.
Having learned about the Summer Youth Program during her junior year in high school and curious about the opportunities, she signed up and began a life-changing journey. The Summer Youth Program gave Natalie real-world knowledge and a financial incentive that helped her support her family and save money for college.
“I didn’t come from a lot of possibilities. The Summer Youth Program opened a lot of doors and changed my life,” said Natalie. Now, she works full-time as a Scheduler for The Coca-Cola Company, and she hosted a Summer Youth Program intern for the first time. She is grateful for the opportunity to give a student a chance to learn new skills and mentor youth in her community.
“The Summer Youth Program was not only beneficial to me, but it has been for a lot of youth in the community. It isn’t just about looking for a job, but also looking to grow and learn new skills,” said Natalie. She recognizes that CareerSource Central Florida’s alignment with the Apopka community impacted her future and the lives of others who joined the program.
It is because of communities like the City of Apopka, the support of Mayor Bryan Nelson, and businesses like The Coca-Cola Company that unite and partner with CareerSource Central Florida to help youth succeed and better their lives. We are honored to have such outstanding partners across the board to help students and support our communities.
CareerSource Central Florida’s Summer Youth Program provides young adults in high school (ages 15-19) with exposure to college experiences, multiple career pathways in high-growth industries, specialized career training and professional internship opportunities with several participating businesses throughout Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Sumter Counties. For more information about the program please visit, CareerSourceCentralFlorida.com.
