"I thought to myself, I can be a brand-new person. I can live the way I want to live."
Dorm chief, recreation hall president, dorm hours leader, wellness leader, safety officer, squad boss, recreation secretary, dorm safety leader. These are all accolades and leadership roles that Chellbie Cheairs gained at Trapper Creek Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center.
Chellbie found out about Job Corps during her senior year of high school in Montrose, Colo. She was struggling with school and was in a less-than-healthy home situation. Chellbie grew up in the foster care system until she was adopted by a single parent at 16 years old. Her new home wasn’t the right fit for her. When her high school counselor suggested Chellbie check out the program and told her she’d be able to earn her high school diploma there, she jumped at the opportunity.
Before arriving at Job Corps, Chellbie didn’t have a high school diploma, driver’s license or Social Security card; but from the moment she stepped on campus, Chellbie knew this was a step in the right direction to gaining those and more.
“Job Corps didn’t just help me grow as a student, but as a person too.”
Thanks to the support of her teachers and peers, Chellbie blossomed at Trapper Creek Job Corps CCC. Fire Training Specialist Danny Atkinson made a particular impact on her life.
“Danny would yell the phrase ‘embrace the suck’ as were we doing physical training (PT). The message was that, although PT might be sucky now, it would become a lot easier the harder we worked.”
Chellbie has carried that motto with her for a few years now.
Chellbie participated in the perfect work-based learning program for a lover of the outdoors. She did a forest conservation job where she worked in timber market, trail building, bridge building, timber harvest and vegetation. She took full advantage of the many resources Job Corps offers for someone with her passions and interests.
Her biggest challenge at Job Corps? The COVID-19 pandemic.
“COVID was really hard for me, but I had my sights set on my future.”
Despite a global pandemic, Chellbie was a star student at Trapper Creek, not just because of her strong character, principles and an excellent work ethic.
“Chellbie’s perseverance and drive are very noticeable. She has dealt with adversity throughout her life and continues to keep pushing forward,” said Job Corps National Office Fire Program Field Coordinator Justin Abbey. “Chellbie embodies what Job Corps stands for.”
Chellbie now works as a visitor information specialist at the Northern Great Lake Visitor Center in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
“I like physical hardship, going outside and getting my hands dirty. The mental and physical are connected. If I want my mental mind to be sharp, my physical body must be sharp too.”
Her long-term goal is to return to the fire world she was first introduced to at Job Corps. She has recently started to network with local firefighters.
“My supervisor has been helping make sure I maintain all my qualifications. Next year, I will be working in firefighter support camp crew administration support or as a Firefighter Type 2. I would like to save my money to go to college one day. I am looking forward to the future.”