When Quetzaly Rodriguez, 22, graduated High School, she considered two options: go to college or go to work.
Even though her vocational goal was not fully developed, she believed employment—with career-advancement potential—could provide financial stability, without a college education, and much sooner.
With an expressed desire for career-development assistance, Quetzaly enrolled in the KRA/Los Angeles County Rancho Dominguez AJCC in January 2025, participating in several subsidized WEX (Work Experience) Youth Program internships with a customer-service focus, as she really enjoyed interacting with the public and assisting people in obtaining the assistance they needed.
Jasmine Harmon, her Career Coach, realized these real-world, hands-on experiences made her an ideal candidate for more advanced WEX assignments with County private- and public-sector employers, one of which was Rancho Dominguez with an opening for an Office Intern!
Working collaboratively with KRA staff to fulfill her 43.5-hour obligation, Quetzaly performed data entry, filing, and record-maintenance duties, as well as document-, presentation-, and -report preparation, strengthening her professional-worksite capabilities.
Recognizing the knowledge, skills, and abilities Quetzaly demonstrated as the Office Intern, Ms. Harmon guided her in applying for a 168-hour Internship with Bank of America (BOA), assisting customers in the use of digital tools, e.g., mobile app and ATM transactions, providing information related to financial-education resources, supporting day-to-day customer-service activities, and participating in professional-development workshops and training.
In October 2025, leveraging the experience she gained through her KRA and BOA Internships, Quetzaly accepted an offer as a Teller with Wells Fargo. Though not 100% dedicated, at this juncture, to a career path in banking, she thoroughly enjoys the customer-service aspect of the environment, the career-advancement opportunities in the financial-services industry, and the portability her expertise provided.
Ms. Harmon concluded, “Quetzaly’s journey reflects the adaptability, determination, and perseverance that will lead her to her chosen career goal. She is a shining example of how commitment, coupled with effective guidance, can lead to meaningful employment success.”