Meet Vincent, an 18-year-old participant in Humanim’s Work-Based Learning Experience (WBLE). He first joined the WBLE program in January 2024 and was placed at Harris Teeter. During the eight-week internship, Vincent developed foundational workplace skills like customer service, organization, and adaptability. All while building practical experience in a retail environment. Although he was shy and nervous in the beginning, Vincent soon found comfort in the structure of the work and began to take initiative on the floor.
At Harris Teeter, Vincent took on a wide range of responsibilities including stocking inventory, maintaining organization, collecting carts, and safely bagging groceries. He also greeted customers at the entrance, allowing him to escape his comfort zone early on. As he gained more experience, Vincent started to feel at ease in the role and began to enjoy his daily tasks, so much so that he plans to work at Harris Teeter after graduating high school.
Until graduation, Vincent continues honing his vocational skills in the program and currently works at Walgreens. In his new WBLE, he confidently takes on both familiar and new tasks, building on his experience with Harris Teeter. At Walgreens, Vincent removes expired products, updates sale tags, and keeps shelves tidy and easy for customers to navigate. He also supports the staff as needed, adapting to each day’s priorities as they come.
Throughout both internships, Vincent has become a dependable part of each team he’s joined. Humanim’s Director of Youth Transition Services describes him as “a pleasure to work with… Vincent has such a great workplace attitude and is eager to assist and learn in any task with confidence.”
His success in the program has impressed his peers and opened new doors, including the opportunity to serve as a guest speaker at Humanim’s Impact Leaders Network event in February. He shared how his experiences helped him recognize his own potential and shaped his career interests in front of an audience of professionals and community members. With a new path paved, Vincent looks forward to progressing toward a future of meaningful work, growth, and independence.