Black girl holding clothes with braids and glasses

DeKalb County resident Saryah Beard came to Goodwill in 2017, seeking an opportunity to participate in the summer internship with Old Navy, which is now known as This Way ONward. As an honor student preparing to graduate from Clarkston High School in May 2018, Saryah was seeking opportunities to earn money for college.

The Old Navy internship was very appealing to Saryah, as she knew this job would allow her to express her fashion sense and work with others who shared her passion for style. Having never worked before, she knew that she needed to develop her skills in order to have the best chance of succeeding in the workplace.

Saryah attending Goodwill’s job readiness training classes which helped to increase her self-confidence and enhance her communication skills. Her instructors were impressed with her determination to overcome her fears as she pushed forward and became more comfortable with the requirements of a customer service role.

In June 2017, Saryah joined the team at Old Navy Perimeter as an intern, where her performance was so exemplary that she was offered the opportunity to remain with the store upon the program’s conclusion. She maintained her employment until December 2018, when she left the area to attend Columbus State University.

During her time at Columbus State, Saryah used the many skills she learned from Goodwill and Old Navy in her work at a local restaurant. She truly appreciates the lessons learned from Goodwill’s job readiness training which allowed her to grow in so many meaningful ways.

Saryah graduated from Columbus State in December 2021 with a degree in business management. She is working at TSYS while planning a future as an entrepreneur.