{"id":1108,"date":"2020-01-06T16:55:13","date_gmt":"2020-01-06T16:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/?p=1108"},"modified":"2020-10-21T15:10:41","modified_gmt":"2020-10-21T15:10:41","slug":"jones-college-hse-graduate-jeremy-stevens-determined-to-succeed-inspire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/jcnews\/news\/jones-college-hse-graduate-jeremy-stevens-determined-to-succeed-inspire\/","title":{"rendered":"Â鶹ֱ²¥ HSE graduate Jeremy Stevens determined to succeed & inspire"},"content":{"rendered":"

ELLISVILLE \u2013 At 17, Jeremy Stevens dropped out during his sophomore year at Laurel High School. He explained, he was working as a full-time manager at McDonald\u2019s to take care of his 15-year old wife, Tabitha Read Stevens and their newborn baby, Juliet. While their paths were filled with obstacles, ten-years later he proudly boasts he has earned his High School Equivalency and is a couple of classes short of earning an associate degree in welding at Â鶹ֱ²¥.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe did it the hardest way possible to begin a family,\u201d said Stevens. \u201cI quit my job at McDonald\u2019s before Skylar, our second child was born in 2013. I took an employability test at Hol-Mac (in Bay Springs) and they turned me down cold. I knew I had no chance because there were college students in there.\u201d<\/p>\n

That rejection \u201clit a fire\u201d in Stevens to get his education at Â鶹ֱ²¥\u2019s Center in Bay Springs.\u00a0 While interested in the Millwright program, instructor Tracy Warden discussed other career options with Stevens, including the MIBEST program, which can help qualified students earn a High School Equivalency while taking welding classes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was at the top of my class in welding; I loved welding. I also earned Millwright and Forklift Certificates at Jones while I finished my HSE,\u201d said Stevens. \u201cI\u2019m grateful Mr. Warden encouraged me to pursue more options.\u201d<\/p>\n

While applying for a welding job at Hol-Mac, Stevens said they offered him an opportunity to become a machinist because he tested well on the math section of the employability test. He said it was an opportunity to earn more income and learn a new trade.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cWhen we have the pleasure to hire a person that has proven that life\u2019s hurdles will not keep them down, they always become an asset to our work family,\u201d said Hol-Mac Corporation\u2019s VP of Human Resources, Maury Hull, PHR. \u201cJeremy Stevens embodies the work ethic and determination of the model employee that Hol-Mac Corporation looks for when we are trying to fill key skill positions in one of our six manufacturing facilities in Mississippi.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite their backgrounds, working \u201cdead-end\u201d jobs, having their house and truck hit by a tornado, dealing with unreliable vehicles and other challenges, the young Stringer residents said they wanted more for their kids, which drives them to do more. \u00a0Being self-determined to earn an education and learn new trades has allowed Jeremy to offer a better and different future for his family. Now, his wife Tabitha is excited to begin working towards her career and further enhance their family\u2019s future. While exploring her options at Â鶹ֱ²¥, she was surprised she scored a 26 on the ACT with only an eighth-grade education. With that confidence-boosting score, Tabitha enrolled in spring classes with aspirations of becoming a marriage and family counselor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to help young couples, like us who didn\u2019t know much,\u201d said Tabitha, who is grateful for the family who helped them raise their three kids. For seven years, Tabitha worked toward earning her HSE degree while working as a personal care attendant for Ability Works.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to show the kids I could do this. We (she and her husband Jeremy) made a deal that we would get our education so our kids couldn\u2019t use it for an excuse, not to go to school. Getting a full-tuition scholarship takes a lot of the financial stress off!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Earning an education was probably the most difficult thing Jeremy said he has ever done, but it has opened so many more doors than he imagined. He also earned a full-tuition scholarship to Jones as the highest overall HSE scorer in Jasper County in 2016.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not done by a long shot! After Tabitha gets done with school, depending on how things go at Hol-Mac, eventually, I want to get a degree in engineering and be an engineer at Hol-Mac,\u201d said Jeremy.<\/p>\n

Inspired by his journey, Jeremy said his younger brother is earning his HSE and is working at Hol-Mac. He\u2019s hoping his wife will enjoy the same amount of success he is currently enjoying at Hol-Mac and offers advice for anyone thinking about getting their education.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo matter what the situation is, there is always an opportunity to better yourself and all it takes is starting the HSE. It opens so many doors, you won\u2019t believe it! Take it one class at a time, one hour at a time if you have to, but keep going,\u201d said Jeremy Stevens.<\/p>\n

For more information about classes at Â鶹ֱ²¥\u2019s Jasper County Center call 601-477-5473 or check the webpage at http:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/workforcecollege\/jasper_county.php. For more information about enrolling at any of Â鶹ֱ²¥\u2019s Centers or the main campus in Ellisville click on the link: https:\/\/www.jcjc.edu\/new2jones.php<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ELLISVILLE \u2013 At 17, Jeremy Stevens dropped out during his sophomore year at Laurel High School. He explained, he was working as a full-time manager at McDonald\u2019s to take care of his 15-year old wife, Tabitha Read Stevens and their newborn baby, Juliet. While their paths were filled with obstacles, ten-years later he proudly boasts … <\/p>\n

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