CALLICOON  — U.S. Representative Marc Molinaro (NY-19) paid a visit to the Delaware Valley Job Corps Center last Tuesday afternoon. While there, he talked with Center Director Matthew Bliefernich about the many rich programs and learning skills that the Job Corps offered students.

Following his talks with the director, Molinaro then spoke with the students, where he explained how he became a member of Congress beginning with interning and volunteer work in his hometown of Tivoli, New York.

He told of how instead of going to college on Staten Island, he ran for Mayor in the Tivoli Board of Trustees – saying that he loved the experience. For 12 years, he served as the Mayor. 

He told of how he was elected to State Legislature where he served in Albany. 

“If you told me I would go from food stamps to a guy who was representing 750,000 of his neighbors in the House of Representatives in Washington D.C., I would’ve told you, you were lying,” said Molinaro.

He also told the students that from his experience from Town Board defeats, he knows how difficult life can get.

“I will also tell you that we spend a lot of time in this country telling people that the only way you count is if you learn a certain way, and you go to a certain school and you graduate with a certain degree,” stated Molinaro. “Some of that is good for some people. It wasn’t good for me.”

“There are many ways to succeed in life. You just have to figure out what works and is the best for you.”

Molinaro praised the Job Corps’ style of teaching by giving students the opportunity through hands-on learning to be able to prepare for the workforce.

He emphasized the need and encouraged students to tackle the jobs they wanted to pursue, such as working in Trades like nursing, utilities, and mechanics.

“We need these people. We need you working in our communities,” urged Molinaro.

 “I just think that everybody should have the opportunity to make a success of themselves that they define,” said Molinaro. “You want to run for office, run for office. You want to be a technician at a hospital, do what you do. Whatever it is, nobody should tell you you can’t.”

“We think it is important for the students to hear the importance of Job Corps in launching successful careers from the Congressman,” said Outreach, Admissions, & Career Transition Services Manager Marian Wood. 

“We also think that having the opportunity to ask the Congressman questions was very meaningful and helped the students further connect with the Congressman.”