Meet Gianna, our October youth highlight!

Gianna’s journey from San Luis Obispo, California, to Eugene, Oregon, has been full of discovery and growth. Now a North Eugene High School student, Gianna found her passion in her wood and metal shop classes. Her curiosity about working with her hands and creating tangible products led her to participate in Connected Lane County’s Elevate Industry Tours.

Last year, Gianna joined the manufacturing tour, where she had the chance to visit Western Shelter’s Springfield facility. She experienced a defining moment there—watching a female welder in action. Seeing a woman thrive in the traditionally male-dominated welding field sparked her imagination. She envisioned herself following a similar path to challenge and hone her skills.

But Gianna didn’t stop at just imagining her future. She took proactive steps toward it by joining Connected Lane County’s job shadow program last fall. Through her job shadow experience, she gained firsthand insight into what a career in welding could look like. She observed the daily demands, the precision, and the craftsmanship involved—confirming that her interest in this field was more than just a passing curiosity.

However, Gianna’s interests are wide-ranging. She explored a different passion during the summer through an Elevate summer internship at the YMCA. The experience allowed her to develop essential soft skills like communication, patience, and leadership—valuable qualities in any career. Reflecting on her internship, Gianna shared, “I learned what it takes to be a leader and how to communicate more effectively with people.”

Gianna’s impact during her internship didn’t go unnoticed. One of her supervisors remarked, “Gianna is amazing. She did a fantastic job in the classroom, and our staff still rave about her. She jumped right in and built great relationships with students and staff. We would hire her if she were interested in working with us again.”

Her cohort lead, Shimea, added, “I know firsthand that this internship was a huge step for Gianna. She was scared and anxious initially but ended up excelling to the point where she left feeling ’empowered.’ She told me that herself!”

Gianna’s story perfectly shows how diverse experiences can shape a young person’s future. Whether she’s welding in a shop or guiding others, we know that Gianna will continue to break barriers and pursue her passions. She wisely puts it, “I like to believe that nothing you do is a waste of time because everything you do is an opportunity for learning.”

We’re excited to see what Gianna does next and are proud to support her.