Matt J. Olsen

Sometimes it’s just luck.

Picture this:

There’s a program that gives free, professional, certified hospitality training to underemployed and unemployed adults.  This program provides a valuable opportunity for folks who are “at the end of their rope,” so to say, and have pretty much hit bottom.  Classes include recovering drug addicts/alcoholics and people who have lost their way in life.  Some have lost custody of their children and others are losing their home.  Most have never been to college, and some maybe have just recently earned their GED.  

But the one thing they all have in common is that they’re enrolled in this program voluntarily; they have made the conscious decision and dedication to lift themselves up and turn their lives around.

In this class, folks learn not just housekeeping, front desk and food service skills, but they get interview practice and learn life skills too.  They learn how to make life decisions, gain confidence, manage money, interact with their family and friends, and create a relationship with God or another spirit to help give them faith and hope for the future.

Now picture all of these people, their families and their supporters at a formal graduation ceremony.  Most of the graduates have never finished anything in their lives, let alone certified job training.  The classmates and instructors have become a family and have shared good times and bad times.  Some students have already turned their lives around, regaining custody of their children or reconnecting with other family members.  Some grads already have jobs at nearby hotels, and others are planning to continue their training, as the program has given them a spark of hope and motivation.  To put it simply: their lives have changed.

Now picture this: As the grads are called up one-by-one to receive their certificates, we see their unabridged emotions.  Tears are very common.  The next name called brings up the class favorite and everyone erupts in to applause and cheers.  Her name is Prayer and not only is she beloved by everyone there, but she bought a graduation gown and cap with her own money to celebrate this occasion.  She jumps up and jogs toward the front.  I’m the event photographer and have only seconds to react, and get this:

With a little Photoshop, Prayer and her high-fiving friend are cut out and now used in nearly every promotional piece about this training program.  It is a hallmark symbol of what the program represents and strives to create.

The head in the way is unfortunate, but moments like this cannot be planned and composed.