COVINGTON, Ky. — Life Learning Center officials held the first 2023 graduation ceremony for their Foundations for a Better Life program. It’s a transformational skills program that helps people get back on track and aim for their highest potential over 12 weeks.
One graduate this go-around was Carlee Otten.
“I was incarcerated, and they referred me here and my parents actually went through this program and they have been clean going on six years. I just wanted a better way in life and I just knew this would help me,” she said.
Otten mentioned it’s been a complete turnaround going through this program. She said she’s also been clean for almost a year now. She said at Life Learning Center, she’s noticed those helping her work to help her and her classmates build life skills, confidence and helped with those barriers people may face in trying to land a job and turn themselves around.
“I’m glad I did it,” she said. “You know, it taught me a lot and I’m very thankful. The people I went to class with I still talk to today.”
In the audience were many family members, friends and loved ones of these graduates.
There was also James Lay.
He said he went through this program back in 2018 hoping to turn his life around after years of battling homelessness, being in and out of jail, and having his kids taken away. He said he comes back as often as he can to show people it can get better.
“I have a 3 bedroom house now, full custody of my kids, a brand new truck, the job I’ve always wanted,” he said. “I mean, it’s just totally different from what it was before.”
He hopes others graduating now continue to better themselves daily, continue coming back and he wants to see them be a light and source of hope for others who may be struggling. He also aspires to teach his kids they can be who they want to be and break that cycle in the family. Otten also said it can get better, and she’s grateful she continued to show up to classes and put in the work to turn things around. This graduation is a major accomplishment for her.
“I’m nervous but I’m excited because I’ve never really finished anything in my life,” Otten said.
She said she’d love to get a college degree next and go into a career, possibly in forensic science and crime scene investigations.
Life Learning Center is located at 20 W 18th Street in Covington, Ky.
More information can be found here.
