The Decatur Youth Services Summer Employment Program is giving teenagers a chance to gain real-world work experience at various local businesses.

The program started this week, and students say it is making a big impact on their lives.

The students are spread out across Decatur helping out at daycares and summer camps or pitching in at hair stores or restaurants. Program leaders say the goal is to build important life skills like time management, responsibility, and communication early in their high school journey.

For some students, the experience has sparked ideas about their future careers. They say the biggest thing they’ve gained so far is confidence.

Austin High School student, Ta’veon Goldsmith is in his second year of the program he said, “When I first started I was kind of to

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