On the day he joined SkillsUSA, Ben Falconer proclaimed he’d secure bragging rights as a gold medalist in the Automotive Refinishing competition. What SkillsUSA helped him achieve since that bold prediction has proven far more important, leading Falconer to a successful, rewarding career restoring some of the rarest, most expensive cars in the world.

Whether you remember them with fondness or try not to remember them at all, first jobs always have a unique influence on the jobs that follow. SkillsUSA members and partners share what they learned from their own first dives into the waters of the workforce.

Brice Harader-Pate always makes the most of family support and educational opportunities. Now she’s paying it forward by providing critical medical care to those who need it most.