Speakers: Toni Byrd
Please introduce yourself, then describe the events in your life that led you to the Construction Ready program.
Toni Byrd: Hello. My name is Toni Byrd. I went through some crazy stuff in my lifetime, but what really led me to sign up for Construction Ready? My sister sent me a flyer. I didn't really understand, I knew it was construction so I did my research on it. So I was like, hey, maybe this program is for me. When I first got into Construction Ready, aw man, I felt like the instructors, everybody was against me. I feel like everybody was just picking on me. But as I went through the journey, I realized everything that I went through made me stronger, including everything before Construction Ready. Everything contributed to the new person that I am today, which is fearless, which is strong and which is goal oriented. OK? I would never give up. Previously, I didn't have a lot of motivation and a lot of courage, but now I can take on anything that I put my mind to and I'm glad to say that
Describe your experience with the Construction Ready program.
Toni Byrd: my experience in Construction Ready was phenomenal. Every single day, we had different things to be looking forward to. Now, I thought I wasn't gonna make it. I really did because I thought everybody was out to get me. But as I trusted myself and as I trusted this journey, I realized that everything that I went through in this program made me into a better person and made me who I am today. But most importantly, I was changing in the program and didn't even know it. When I cried at graduation. that was the old Toni leaving and the new Toni coming in. It was a smooth transition. It taught me ... Construction Ready taught me so much. It taught me more mentally, it taught me more how to live out of here and it taught me to be more true to myself, which is my identity.
Describe your life now after Construction Ready. Better career? More money? More success?
Toni Byrd: First off, I want to say thank you Construction Ready for giving me the opportunity to go through the program and also use my skills and my knowledge to take me farther in life, because that's something that nobody can ever take away from me. And my life is going more successful, I'm more peaceful and I'm also able to share more knowledge with the people that surround me. So again, I want to say thank you, and I feel great and I feel happy.
