By Zipporah Leach, Vocational Specialist

This semester, our students stepped into workplaces across our community with courage, curiosity, and a determination that deserves to be celebrated. As their Vocational Specialist, I have the privilege of walking beside them as they practice employability skills, discover their strengths, and challenge the world’s expectations of what students with individualized needs can accomplish. What I witnessed over these past months was nothing short of inspirational. These students created small wins every day; wins that may look simple on the surface, but in reality, reflect enormous growth, resilience, and hope for their futures.

We often talk about foundational soft skills in vocational training, like being on time, following directions, completing tasks, asking questions, and learning new talents. But for our students, these aren’t just skills; they’re meaningful ‘small wins’ that represent far more than simple checkmarks on an evaluation form. They are acts of bravery. They are moments of pride. They are seeds planted for bigger wins that are surely to come. This semester, our students did exactly that. They didn’t just participate, they thrived.

One of the most powerful examples of workplace joy came from our partnership with Free N Deed Food Pantry in Dolton, Illinois. Each week, our students showed up ready to serve a community that has experienced real hardship and food insecurity. What touched me deeply is that many of our students know what it feels like to experience shortages themselves, shortages of resources, opportunities, or even encouragement. Yet here they were, stocking shelves, preparing food bags, organizing donations, and offering warm smiles and greetings to every guest who walked through the door.

Instead of focusing on what they lacked, our students poured out generosity, empathy, and joy. They showed that compassion is not limited by circumstance. In fact, sometimes the people who have faced the toughest challenges become the most powerful givers. Watching them lift up others, many older, many struggling, many quietly hoping someone would see them all reminded me of why this work matters so much. Our students were that hope.

Seeing them take ownership of their responsibilities was a small win that carried big meaning. Some students mastered the organization systems in the pantry; others practiced customer service skills by greeting families; others improved their speed and accuracy in preparing bags or restocking inventory. These tasks were not glamorous, but they were important and our students treated them with the respect and seriousness of true employees. They proved themselves accountable, dependable, and capable of real workplace success.

Another small win this semester came from the way students supported each other. In every workspace, peers stepped in to help peers, showing one another how to use tools, sharing reminders about steps in a task, or encouraging someone who looked overwhelmed. They demonstrated teamwork, patience, and leadership qualities that many adults still strive to develop. These are not “small” skills at all. These are the foundational qualities of excellent employees, compassionate coworkers, and responsible citizens.

And these wins weren’t only happening at the pantry. Across our internship sites, students challenged the narrative society too often imposes on people with individualized needs. They showed that they are not defined by limitations. They are defined by possibility. They are defined by talent. They are defined by work ethic. Every site supervisor who worked with our students mentioned how impressed they were by their students’ consistency, willingness to learn, and joyful attitudes. Several supervisors expressed that the students brought positive energy to their workplaces, energy that staff looked forward to week after week.

Our students also earned small stipends for their internship work, and while the dollar amount may be small, the meaning behind it is immense. For many, this was their first time being compensated for their effort. Receiving a stipend affirmed that their contributions have value. That their work matters. That they belong in the workforce. You could see their posture change, their confidence grow, and their sense of independence strengthen.

As we stand at the door of a new year, these small wins become the foundation for what is coming next. January will bring new opportunities for growth, new job sites, new skills to practice, new chances to shine. Our students have shown that they are ready. They have created the momentum. They have demonstrated that they can rise to expectations and even exceed them when given the chance.

They are not just preparing for the workforce; they are reshaping it. They are showing employers what inclusion looks like. They are showing communities what perseverance looks like. And they are teaching all of us what joy looks like when translated into meaningful work.

As their instructor, I have watched them walk into their futures with courage. They are not waiting for the world to make space for them; they are creating that space themselves. Every small win this semester has shown that greatness is built one brave, intentional step at a time. And as Shirley Chisholm powerfully reminded us, “Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.” Through their dedication, their kindness, and their commitment to showing up for others, our students are paying that rent with pride. If this semester is any indication of what’s ahead, then January and the year to come hold a beautiful abundance of new victories.