Valeria Villalpando Goytia, a Lawndale High School student, struggled to find her first job with no prior experience. She doubted her ability to succeed in the workplace. She discovered SBWIB’s Youth-at-Work and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth programs through her school’s music program and joined a paid internship that connected her with music industry professionals.

With support from the SBWIB, she gained confidence, learned workplace skills, and developed strong communication and professionalism. She later completed both an internship and a pre-apprenticeship, learning how to interview and succeed on the job. Valeria is now a full-time student at UC Irvine, balancing her studies with on-campus employment thanks to the foundation SBWIB helped her build.