At just 15 years old, Makenzie dropped out of school and quickly found herself on a difficult path. Surrounded by the wrong influences and struggling with addiction, her life began to spiral until one moment changed everything — she found herself in jail. That experience became her wake-up call. Makenzie knew her life had to change. With courage and determination, she picked up the phone and called PAVE East Texas. On the other end was Becker, our Student Support Coordinator. From that first conversation, Makenzie felt supported, believed in, and encouraged. That same day, she enrolled in GED classes — and her new journey began. Today, Makenzie is three years clean and sober. She has earned her GED, rebuilt her confidence, and rediscovered her purpose. But she didn’t stop there. Makenzie enrolled in PAVE’s Career Pathways Program and continues pushing herself toward even bigger goals. She has taken on new responsibilities at work, earned her forklift certification, and opened the door to even more opportunities. She is currently on track to earn another certificate in May and hopes to continue into a second year for more advanced training. Makenzie’s long-term goal is to own her own industrial HVAC business and financially support other young women as they pursue careers in male-dominated fields. Once believing her future was out of reach, Makenzie now stands full of confidence and purpose — proof that with the right support, second chances become powerful new beginnings.