Terence’s Leap of Faith
When the Right Support Meets Relentless Determination
When Terence talks about his journey, one phrase comes up again and again: showing up.
A disabled veteran and single dad of three, Terence had spent years doing exactly that—showing up for his family, his work, and his community. He worked as a manager at Amazon, but despite his dedication, the role began to feel more like a job than a career. Advancement felt out of reach, and discouragement set in. Terence knew he was capable of more. He just needed a path forward.
Taking a leap of faith, Terence left his job to focus fully on training. His first stop was CityLink, where he completed the software engineering program. When the job search proved longer than expected, he didn’t give up. Drawing on skills he’d learned growing up under the guidance of his father, grandfather, and uncle—true craftsmen who taught him carpentry by example—Terence returned to CityLink and enrolled in the construction program.
At the same time, life didn’t slow down. Terence was raising three kids: one studying electrical engineering at the University of Louisville, an 18-year-old competitive bowler, and a 13-year-old daughter who keeps busy with basketball, soccer, and lacrosse. Just days before graduation, the car he’d been relying on broke down. With transportation suddenly uncertain, Terence did whatever it took to keep going—Uber, buses, rides from his dad. He even called Holly at ChangingGears in tears, overwhelmed but determined not to quit.
That’s when ChangingGears wrapped around him.
Through a referral from Habitat for Humanity and the support of the Bridge Program, Terence found stability at exactly the right moment. With encouragement from the ChangingGears team—especially Moazmah, who he says “had his back and was cheering him on”—everything began to line up. On the same day he met with her, Terence secured insurance and purchased a car. That same week, he landed a job interview. The job offer came the day before graduation. He got his car two days before starting work.
Today, Terence is thriving as a carpenter with The Model Group. He’s doing rough framing, finishes, mudding, plastering, and working alongside other contractors—learning every step of the development process. He loves staying busy, being trusted to do the work, and having the tools he needs to succeed. Just three weeks into the job, a superintendent personally recruited and trained him on a new task. Terence showed up with his pencil ready.
“It’s all happening so fast,” he says. “I’m thankful.”
For Terence, this work is more than a job. As a veteran living with PTSD, he takes pride in doing everything to the best of his ability—knowing his work serves fellow veterans and strengthens the community. He’s found joy in routine again: going to bed on time, waking up early, and feeling excited to get to work each day.
When asked what advice he’d give to others considering the program, Terence doesn’t hesitate:
“Believe in yourself. Never be afraid to challenge yourself. Go the extra mile. Trust the process—the roadblock is not the end of the road. CityLink and ChangingGears are here to help, but you have to want it and show up. You’ll get out of it what you put into it.”
Because of supporters like you, Terence didn’t have to walk this road alone. Thank you for helping turn determination into opportunity—and for believing in people who are ready to take their leap of faith.
