Meet Thereslyn Carlyle…

After living and working on a farm with her family her whole life, Thereslyn Carlyle decided it was time to join the workforce. She met with her Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) counselor to discuss what steps she should take to prepare for employment. Thereslyn’s counselor recommended she enroll in work evaluation and community work adjustment training at the East Athens Goodwill Career Center. Because Goodwill and the Athens Vocational Rehabilitation office have developed a strong partnership, it was an easy decision to refer Thereslyn to receive services from the Goodwill team.

Thereslyn faced barriers to employment, including difficulties with reading comprehension, social engagement, and a lack of transportation. Her Goodwill case manager and skills instructor helped her adjust to the working environment by assigning her specific tasks and providing thorough instructions on how to complete them. They also surrounded her with fellow peers and retail store team members who welcomed her and assisted her when needed. Throughout the training, she demonstrated her willingness to learn new tasks and help her peers. Thereslyn expressed her interest in working in retail as she enjoyed training in the Goodwill store. Thereslyn’s focus and task completion skills improved each day she attended training. When she finally felt confident in her skills, she decided she was ready to apply for her first job.

The Goodwill team assisted Thereslyn with job applications and provided interview preparation, enabling her to engage confidently with employers. In December 2024, she achieved her goal and was hired by Dollar General as a sales associate. She was ecstatic to land her first job finally!

With much gratitude, Thereslyn shared, “Thank you, Goodwill, for helping me improve my communication skills and showing me how to work better alongside co-workers. I’m so thankful.”