When her recurring drug use led to losing custody of her children to the state, Jalynn felt like her life had turned upside down. But the experience actually turned her life around.

“I sit here now with 25 months and 17 days of being clean,” Jalynn says. “It got me on a better track of life.”

The path to recovery coincided with Jalynn getting a job as an associate at Deseret Industries. Her bishop had recommended working at DI to help her prepare for and progress toward her long-term goals.

“I had been out of work for more than a year, and I was having a hard time finding something,” Jalynn says. “I came to DI to get a little more training to find a better job.”

Thanks to the support of her job coach, development counselor, and fellow associates, Jalynn made great strides and ultimately received full custody of her children. She credits the job coaches for creating an atmosphere of collaboration and care.

“The supervisors are empathetic with what’s going on in your life,” Jalynn says. “They show concern about how things are going, and they know if you need help with something.”

Jalynn is grateful for how the DI job training program has improved her skills and given her a framework for success. She now hopes to use her experience to make a difference in her community.

“When I first started here, my first goal was to get three months clean,” Jalynn says. “I am now working with my development counselor to see if they can help me go back to school. I want to get a job working as a drug counselor to help people who are struggling with addiction.”