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“I attended GNTCÐÔÊӽ紫ý High School Equivalency classes and was in the Youth Work Experience program. I didn’t know how to start to get a job or how to write a resume,â€� Gilreath said. “GNTC helped me get my first job. They helped with everything.â€�

Gilreath acknowledged GNTCÐÔÊӽ紫ý Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Services coordinator Vince Stalling, WIOA Youth specialist Tammy Pence and WIOA Youth Services instructional aide LaRae Eveans for helping her complete her HSE and get her first job. GNTCÐÔÊӽ紫ý Office of Adult Education operates the WIOA Youth Success Academy (YSA) program.

“The YSA welcomes a diverse group of students each year, each bringing unique strengths and challenges,â€� Eveans said. “For many, math is one of the most difficult subjects. ThatÐÔÊӽ紫ý why we take the time to understand each studentÐÔÊӽ紫ý individual learning style and tailor instruction to meet their needs.â€�

“Building those personalized lessons starts with building relationships, and those connections can make all the difference,� Eveans said. “In some cases, like with Sherry, those relationships continue long after the classroom and can last a lifetime.�

Gilreath, the eldest of eight siblings, grew up in Chickamauga. She said she lived with her grandparents until she was nine.

She dropped out of school in eighth grade, became pregnant at 15, got married and then divorced. She married a second time and divorced again. She had three children, who are now ages 17, 18 and 19.

Still reeling from the trauma of two unhappy marriages, she said she focused on improving her circumstances and providing for her children. She sought her HSE primarily so that she could apply for a manufacturing job at Roper Corporation in LaFayette.

“School was never easy for me,� Gilreath said. “I was always behind when I attended HSE classes. It did take me some time to complete the program, but it was worth it in the end.�

“I watched Sherry face weekly challenges on her journey to earn her HSE,� Pence said. “There were moments of discouragement, but she never gave up—steadily building her knowledge bit by bit. We celebrated every milestone, and through it all, she developed an unshakable persistence.�

After Gilreath completed her HSE, Eveans asked if she had considered attending college.

Gilreath reminded Eveans that she could not afford college, and no one in her family had ever gone further in school than the eighth grade. Eveans told her about Financial Aid and explained that she could attend college at very little cost.

“I had never thought about college, so I took the time to figure it out because I wasn’t about to waste this opportunity,� Gilreath said.

Gilreath encouraged her siblings to continue their educations. One sister attended Chattanooga State Community College, and another attended the same HSE program Gilreath had attended.

Her daughter, Hannah Gail Gilreath, is a Business Management associate degree student at GNTCÐÔÊӽ紫ý Walker County Campus, she said.

Gilreath juggled taking classes in GNTCÐÔÊӽ紫ý Phlebotomy program, raising her family, working at Roper and supplementing her income by picking up extra shifts when she could. Over the years, her side jobs included working at a gas station, operating her own cleaning business and then reselling pallets of overstock and returned products.

She got a job at Blood Assurance where she gained experience drawing blood.

“My goal was to go in the medical field to help people for at least a few years,� she said. She worked in Phlebotomy for 4.5 years at Blood Assurance, where she quickly moved up the ranks.

“During my last year with Blood Assurance, I got a promotion—the first one in my life—to be an account manager,� Gilreath said. “I was very proud of that because a year and half before I had just experienced a hard divorce.�

Gilreath worked her way into a leadership position at Blood Assurance, Stalling said. Her entrepreneurial achievements are a testament to her resilience and unwavering determination.

“Sherry has a remarkable ability to turn obstacles into stepping stones to success,� Stalling said. “While many shy away from challenges, she embraces them and keeps moving forward.�

Working three jobs enabled her to attend college while providing a comfortable living for her family, she said. Gilreath expressed her gratitude for the opportunities her previous employers have given her and the experience she has gained; however, she always knew that she wanted to own a business and be independent.

“I absolutely loved my Phlebotomy job at Blood Assurance,� she said. “If I didn't have a dream of owning a bin store, I would still be working in the Phlebotomy field, and, if I had the time, I would do both.�

Gilreath became so savvy at reselling items from her pallet purchases that she grew the side-business into a full-time job, she said. She named her business after the nickname coworkers at two different jobs had given her, Sherr Bear.

“I was always good at reselling and making extra money for my family,� she said. “I realized how good I was with people, and being a people-person can go a long way in retail.�

GilreathÐÔÊӽ紫ý goal is to grow her current location and open second store or a warehouse. She also wants to help her daughter start her own business after she graduates from GNTC.

“The same drive and determination Sherry had to complete her HSE have been evident as sheÐÔÊӽ紫ý worked to build her own business,â€� Pence said. “I often tell my students to ‘evaluate and adjust,’ and I’ve seen Sherry embody that mindset while planning and executing her business goals. We are incredibly proud of her and grateful to have had a front-row seat to witness her success.â€�

“I’m proud to say that Sherry is one of our standout participants—someone who never forgets to express gratitude to YSA for the role it played in her journey,� Stalling said.

“Her story is consistently inspiring—especially when she shares it with our current YSA students, speaking openly about being a single mother determined to create a better future for her children,� he said.

Gilreath said she is excited to have students from GNTCÐÔÊӽ紫ý Youth Work Experience program starting at her business in July.

“I think itÐÔÊӽ紫ý pretty cool to have those students work here because I started with the Youth Work Experience program,â€� she said.

The WIOA YSA enables out-of-school youth to obtain their HSE and technical education by providing testing preparation, job readiness, workshops and leadership activities. The program is sponsored through a partnership with GNTC and the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission. Eligible participants may apply for travel and childcare stipends in the five programs that YSA offers.

The Work Experience program helps out-of-school youth ages 18-24 gain work experience, learn fundamental work ethics, learn leadership and work readiness, and develop communication and teamwork skills. Participants are paid and work up to 40 hours per week. They may work in the program for up to 450 hours. The programÐÔÊӽ紫ý goal is to lead to potential employment.