Fine tuning his self-confidence and selling himself to an employer are the most important things that Richard learned in the Starkloff Career Academy. “Meeting and getting to know my fellow classmates was amazing,” he adds. “Seeing how strong the human spirit is, the huge obstacles that can challenge us to accomplish and achieve so much. I am in awe of my classmates.”

Richard came to the Career Academy with a BA in Art History from UMSL. The Career Academy helped him develop strong interviewing skills and learn how to self-promote. Richard is now teaching at the St. Louis Community College, where he leads a continuing education class on how to use Twitter as well as freshman orientation, a semester-long class. “The class is to help freshman understand and adjust to the college work load and responsibilities.” He has been there since 2014.

Using his degree and training, Richard values helping students start their journey to learn new skills. “This is a huge task and I admire their will to succeed.”

Richard has Muscular Dystrophy. He has been using a wheelchair since 2003, at the age of 22. Having a disability helps make him an outstanding employee. “I see more possibilities from a different view. We can make anything possible with a different approach.”

“Always look for and find new inspiration,” Richard proclaims. Be a problem solver. “Where there is a will, there is a way.”

Bryan has Cerebral Palsy, and he uses a manual wheelchair to assist with his mobility disability. He started at the Career Academy with an MA in Human Resources Management from Webster University.

Before coming to our Career Academy, Brian was sending the same resume to every job opportunity, and he was finding little success landing a job he desired.

During the Career Academy program, he learned the hard skill of customizing his resume for each job. Several of the lessons in the Academy also taught him to be more adaptable, flexible, fluid and creative. After graduating from the Starkloff Career Academy in the Spring of 2017, he felt more confident with his disability because of the skills he learned and the opportunity to observe other professionals with disabilities living and working comfortably.

It was his self-assurance and courage that helped Bryan earn an internship at Gateway Sales Consulting, a firm committed to being the largest outsourced consulting company in North America, as a Job Title Recruiter for sales people in the business-to-business sector.

When describing his work experience, Bryan says, “My most meaningful work experience was building relationships with job seekers, making them feel more comfortable. I was able to establish a relationship with possible candidates to find out a common interest to discuss. I was able to help them relax prior to their interview, as well – All skills I learned from SCA.”

The Career Academy helped Bryan find his inner confidence, become more open and friendly. “It changed my life.”