Fabricio is originally from Ecuador and he started school in Cuenca, a provincial capital in the South American country. When Fabricio was 13, he and his family moved to the United States and soon he became bilingual, speaking Spanish and English. Fabricio attended Columbia Heights High School and enrolled into the Empowers Program through the Anoka County Job Training Center, a Leading CareerForce partner. The Anoka County Empowers Program provides employment and training opportunities to eligible youth and young adults.

Fabricio was interested in an Information Technology (IT) internship due to his hobby of working on computers. Fabricio was assigned a career counselor who assisted him in starting a paid internship in IT which continued throughout his senior year. After graduation Fabricio started a new paid internship through the Empowers Program with the Mayor of Columbia Heights, Amáda Márquez Simula. This internship experience built his networking skills, confidence in navigating how to prioritize work responsibilities, and enhancing his time management skills.

Fabricio expressed how working with Mayor Márquez Simula, who shares a cultural background with him, helped him appreciate his skill sets and cultural knowledge, “In general, life is challenging but take all the opportunities that you can. I felt supported through this program, surround yourself with people who know your worth.”

Fabricio is now attending St. Olaf college, where he is majoring in physics. He graduated high school with a 3.9 GPA and earned two scholarships to assist with college tuition. Congratulations, Fabricio as you embark on the next steps on what promises to be a bright future for you! 

• Find out more about the Anoka County Empowers Program
• Contact staff at a CareerForce location near you