Monique’s acceptance of the completion certificate at the January-February workshop commencement. 

Celebrating Monique’s Confidence & Success – HVAC Technical Academy

Oi! So confident, so vocal, and loud—I’m speechless.

So, she forgot to tell you what’s going on with Esther—oh, I did? She got a job! Fantastic! That’s something to be very proud of.

And that’s for everybody—trust me, if she can, y’all can!

(You didn’t hear that, did you?)

I’m proud of you, Monique, very much so.

Now, I would like to save our last—not necessarily, well, okay—the best… for this individual.

So, let’s take a look at his video! View Video by clicking here!

Monique’s Journey of Growth & Confidence – HVAC Technical Academy

Transcript with Punctuation Added:

I’m gonna put this on here because you talk very lightly.

Hi, I’m Monique. I’m a little bit shy—okay?

Six weeks ago, I didn’t know anything. At all.

I get nervous, I get shy, and I didn’t have confidence in anything I was doing. Mr. Danyel would say, “Monique, you need to have confidence.” Mr. Robert would say, “You know what you’re doing—you just need to have confidence.” And Mr. Andrew would call my name, and I’d be like, “Not here!”

This experience has taught me so much. Coming from customer service, this was all new to me—more hands-on, more technical—but I have learned a lot through Second Chance University and with Career Source and my counselor, Miss [Name] right there.

So, I want to say thank you.

I actually wrote a letter for everyone—to remind us to have confidence and remember where we started.

“We made it through the sweat, tears, and frustration. As we stand at the crossroad of accomplishment and inspiration, it is essential to reflect on what failure truly means.

Failure is not merely a setback—it’s a crucial part of the journey toward success. It’s the moment we realize that getting knocked down is not the end, but rather an invitation to rise again, dust ourselves off, and start anew.

Failure is often seen as something negative—something to avoid at all costs. But I’ve come to understand that failure is actually a teacher. It provides us with invaluable lessons that success alone cannot offer. Each stumble, each misstep is an opportunity for growth.

Failure is never giving up. It is the relentless pursuit of our goals, fueled by the belief that we can overcome any obstacle. It’s the courage to face our fears head-on, to step into the arena even when the odds are stacked against us.

As I stand here today, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for this opportunity to reflect on our journey. I owe a tremendous debt of thanks to the instructors whose unwavering dedication has guided us through these challenges. Your commitment to our growth has been nothing short of inspiring.

Thank you, Mr. Danyel, for creating Second Chance University. Your vision and belief in our potential have opened doors we once thought were closed forever. You’ve shown us that even in our darkest moments, there is light guiding us toward new horizons.

At Second Chance University, we’ve learned to be fearless, like a lion. We’ve discovered that fear is not our enemy, but a companion—one that pushes us beyond our limits. We’ve learned to embrace challenges, transforming them into stepping stones instead of stumbling blocks. With every challenge faced, we’ve soared higher, like an eagle taking flight, embracing the winds of change and uncertainty.

Through this journey, we have formed a community, a support system that lifts each other up. We’ve cheered for one another in our highs and lifted each other up in our lows. Together, we’ve cultivated a culture of resilience and determination.

We now understand that failure is not the opposite of success—it is an integral part of it. It is the grit and determination that propels us forward, pushing us to reach for our dreams with renewed vigor.

As we look ahead, we step into a world of possibilities, embracing the unknown, ready to make our mark and build a better tomorrow with courage and determination.

And to my class—I just want to say, we made it. We went through frustration, but we pulled through. I just hope we continue on this path, no matter where our journey starts.

We may be going in different directions, but as they say, we should fail forward.

That’s all I have to say.

Thank you, everyone.