06 Jul First Person: Daisy Workman Gets on the Road Again

Daisy Workman enjoyed her job at the hospital. But when her hours got changed and she needed flexibility to meet her family’s needs, she switched gears, thanks to support from CITC.

“First Person” is a series that highlights the voices and experiences of Our People. This as-told-to feature is based on an interview with an individual who has achieved success with the support of CITC programs and services.

Before I started training, I was working at the hospital, serving food to patients. I was happy there, working 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. But then my job was scheduling me for the weekend and evening, and that didn’t work for my family. I needed a position that would allow me flexibility. I was like, I can’t do this.

I was on TANF [Temporary Assistance for Needy Families], so CITC was helping me financially. All of a sudden, I was talking to the Education Services program, and they said they could pay for training. I just about fell off my chair!

The lady I talked to asked me, “What’s your dream, Daisy?” I was like, “My dream?” She said, “Yeah, what have you always dreamed of doing?” I laughed and said, “Well, if we’re talking about dreams—I’ve always wanted to be a pilot!” She looked at me and said, “Really? We have that, too!”

I told her, “Let’s see if I could do the CDL training, first.” [laughs] But that really made me think about what was possible. My ten-year-old son said, “Mom, are you going to be a pilot before me?”

I started training for my Class A CDL, and I was riding down the highway in a semi, thinking, This is insane! I didn’t pass my Class A road test because I couldn’t back the semi up and park it. So I went back for a Class B, which was a lot easier. I was driving an automatic, so I didn’t have to shift gears, and there was no trailer. It’s just driving a big truck.

The instructor who did my road test had also instructed me for a day in Class A. When he tested me, he said, “You’re a pretty good driver, Daisy!” Yeah—as long as I don’t have to shift or use my clutch! [laughs]

Then I went back and got my passenger endorsement for driving a bus. Altogether, the training was eight weeks. The thing I enjoyed, aside from driving, was my instructors were all different, and they all wanted you to succeed. They took me from not knowing anything to getting into a truck with two other students and driving for miles and miles.

It was challenging. I almost quit a couple times. There were days where I felt like just driving past the training facility. But I just reached six years of sobriety, and from that, I learned you can’t quit—even though it’s sometimes hard. No one was making me do this, so I had to choose not to quit. I would not be here today if I had quit.

I was very grateful to CITC, that they were able to fund me and help me get a better job. I landed a job with 1-800-Asphalt, starting out at $16 an hour. I interviewed at 9 a.m. one day and went straight to work! I made four loads of concrete—it was a good day!

I’m pretty active. I can jump in and out of the truck bed. We have to make sure the bed is clean for the next load and sprayed down for the asphalt pickup. My boss is really nice, always checking in with me. He had a mechanic weld a little step for me because I’m kind of short. It’s really nice when someone does something like that.

But I’m not 40 anymore. I’m 52. I come home pretty tired. So I’m looking for a job with less labor. I know something else will show up when it’s right.

CITC paid for my training, and they covered a week of Certifications Bootcamp, too, where I got certified in basic CPR, flagging, fall protection, confined spaces. I came from just knowing how to drive a car to learning how to inspect a vehicle; I learned a lot about the engine.

I would tell anyone: Come to CITC. And when you’re in training, no matter how hard it gets, see it through—because that’s when things will change.

Be like Daisy: Take the first step toward a new career today by contacting CITC’s Employment & Training Services Department at (907) 793-3300 or etsd@citci.org.