Bell County High School graduate Laine Partin already knew she had an interest in working with children. Through Prosper Appalachia, she got the chance to see what that career path could look like before she left high school.
Prosper Appalachia is EKCEP’s in-school career exploration and work-based learning program, helping Eastern Kentucky students connect their career interests with paid, real-world work experience close to home. In Bell County, EKCEP partners with Bell-Whitley Community Action Agency to deliver the program locally, connecting students with Career Development Specialists who help them explore opportunities tied to their goals.
When Partin connected with Career Development Specialist Taryn Mills, she explained that she planned to study education after graduation and wanted a job that would let her gain experience working with children.
“I had been wanting to get a job, but we didn’t know where to apply because a lot of these places, they either hire over 18 or the pay isn’t really good and just stuff like that,” Partin said.
After learning about Partin’s interest in education, Mills began reaching out to local daycares. Partin soon had an opportunity in Pineville, where she worked from August through December.
For Partin, the placement gave her hands-on experience with children while also helping her better understand the day-to-day responsibilities of a real workplace. At the daycare, she worked with several age groups, including toddlers ages 2 to 4. Her daily routine included helping with breakfast and leading various activities with students.
“So I wasn’t with the kids I would want to teach in elementary, but I did get to work with kids,” Partin said. “And if I didn’t get to work with these kids, I wouldn’t know if I really could have gone through education.”
The experience helped confirm what Partin had already been considering.
“I’ve always had a soft spot for kids,” she said. “And this really, that job really did confirm, like, I do want to do something working with kids and having them learn a lot.”
Prosper Appalachia also gave Partin her first job experience. She learned how to track hours, complete timesheets, clock in and out, communicate with supervisors, and manage the responsibilities that come with paid employment.
The paid component also mattered. Partin said her first paycheck came after working 78.5 hours during the summer, giving her money for gas, food, and other expenses. It also taught her how to manage her earnings. She said that budgeting lesson became one of the unexpected benefits of the program.
“Yes, it’s helping me a lot,” she said. “And so I have Venmo. I get paid direct deposit through Venmo. And one thing I hate about it is it doesn’t have a savings account. So I really do have to try and budget and not go past that, or else I won’t have any money.”
Partin said she would encourage other students to take advantage of Prosper Appalachia, especially in small towns where jobs can be difficult for younger workers to find.
“I would heavily recommend Prosper Appalachia because a lot of these jobs around here, since we live in a small town, either have all of the employees that they need or they can’t pay for another employee,” she said.
Through Prosper Appalachia, Partin gained more than a paycheck. She gained confidence, workplace experience, budgeting skills, and a clearer picture of the career she wanted to pursue after high school, all while working close to home.
Prosper Appalachia is funded in part through support from the Kentucky General Assembly as part of the Putting Young Kentuckians to Work initiative, but private donations help EKCEP expand critical work experience opportunities for students across Eastern Kentucky. To invest in the future of our region’s young people, donate directly at ekcep.org/donate.
EKCEP, a nonprofit workforce development agency headquartered in Hazard, Ky., serves the citizens of 23 Appalachian coalfield counties. EKCEP is funded by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, along with various federal and state grants and private donations, and is a proud partner in the American Job Center network.