Cultivating a Brighter Future
For many Corpsmembers, their experience at NJ Youth Corps means more than a diploma—it symbolizes perseverance, growth, and new beginnings. That -and more- is exactly what was accomplished by recent New Jersey Youth Corps of Phillipsburg alum, Larry Au Jr.
At work planting in the NJYC pollinator garden.
Larry’s accomplishment was all the more impressive given his previous, challenging experiences in school. Growing up, Larry moved around a lot. Starting in Phillipsburg, he then lived in, among other places, Pohatcong and Chambersburg, PA. Larry was able to make friends in school at each stop along the way, but keeping friends was difficult. Relocating also made school difficult since, with each move, he needed to adjust to new teachers, administrations, and curricula. The abrupt changes led him to feel lost as there was a mismatch between his abilities and the classes he was placed in.
When he moved back to Phillipsburg in 2025, Larry heard about Youth Corps through family; an aunt had attended the program. Larry decided to give it a try. Informed by his previous experiences in school, he was apprehensive about starting something new, but soon after joining, he felt seen and heard.
“When I first came to the Youth Corps, I was scared and nervous. I didn't know what to expect. But with time, and the right people, I felt welcomed and accepted. The people I've met here led me to believe there is hope, and there are opportunities for all of us to grow and change. You don't have to be anything for anyone but yourself.”
At Youth Corps, Larry spent half of his time in classroom instruction with Ms. Thea, the program’s instructor, studying all four GED subject areas: Reading Through Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. In Larry’s words, Ms. Thea is a great teacher. She “made sure we understood everything and then transitioned to the next part in a way that went smoothly from one subject to another. For example, she started with the four basic operations, and then incorporated them into more advanced algebra. This was unlike school where the basics were not covered because they expect you to know it already.”
Larry’s favorite subject is science, especially biology. This topic was covered not only in Youth Corps’s academic component, but also through the program’s service learning opportunities, guest speakers, and field trips.
““I realized I want to help the community and the environment,””
Among the service projects Larry and his class completed during the program’s twice-weekly service days, Larry removed invasive species from the lands surrounding Merrill Creek Reservoir and used the cuttings to construct fish habitat in the form of artificial reefs. This afforded Larry the opportunity to learn about the ecology of the area while contributing to its wellbeing.
Planting trees along the Musconetcong
This comprehensive programming, and Larry’s determination and work ethic, goes a long way towards explaining how he managed to get among the highest GED scores a Phillipsburg Corpsmember has ever had. Scored on a scale from 100-200, testers must achieve at least a 145 to pass. Scores of 175 or higher earn eligibility for up to three college credits in the given subject area. Larry scored a 175 in math and a 177 in science! According to the GED website, these scores “are equivalent to the top 1-8% of graduating high school seniors.”*
Fishing at Sedge Island
Over the summer following his graduation from Youth Corps, Larry participated in the organization’s six-week Youth Inclusion Initiative. Funded by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Youth Inclusion Initiative offers young adults aged 16-20 paid opportunities to explore skills and careers in the field of environmental protection. Larry’s favorite project was aquatic macroinvertebrate sampling. Different macroinvertebrates, or creatures without a backbone which are big enough to be seen with the naked eye, have different tolerances for polluted water. Larry’s work identifying which insects inhabited the body of water he examined helped scientists determine the health of a pond.
His overall experiences at Youth Corps gave him purpose, made him feel good about what he was doing. “I realized I want to help the community and the environment,” said Larry. in the summary of his experience, he did exactly that- and more.
““Push yourself to work harder and push past the difficulties life throws at you. Just because you feel alone, doesn’t necessarily mean you are.””
After accomplishing all of these things, Larry continues to receive support and services through the program working with the program’s Transition Coordinator Mr. Chris to study for his driving permit test (which he took and passed!) and secure employment. Now a newly licensed driver, Larry currently works at Dunkin’ while preparing for college where he plans to study either biology or veterinary science.
NJYC Graduate and Class Valedictorian
Larry’s Youth Corps journey was full—he accomplished nearly every milestone offered. As he grew more open to a new mindset, he began to envision the future he’d always wanted but hadn’t fully believed he deserved. Being recognized as his graduating cohorts Valedictorian, Larry gave this advice in his speech:
“Before enrolling in the class, I was kinda lost. I didn't know what I was going to make of myself, as I'm sure some of you can relate. We all worked very hard to be here, even with all the struggles and loss we've faced. Let this perseverance be a sign that just because life feels like its ending, doesn't mean it has to. It's what you make with what you have that changes the outcome of your life. Push yourself to work harder and push past the difficulties life throws at you. Just because you feel alone, doesn't necessarily mean you are.”
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Larry’s story is one that countless young adults can relate to—feeling behind, feeling lost, or feeling like traditional school simply wasn’t built for them. But at NJ Youth Corps, Larry found something different: people who listened, instruction that met him where he was, and opportunities that showed him what he was capable of. He found support, structure, and a sense of belonging at the Phillipsburg program. With dedicated instruction and hands-on service projects, he gained confidence, discovered new interests, and realized how transformative NJ Youth Corps can be.
If Larry’s story resonates with you, Youth Corps might be the perfect place to start your own.
Join the Youth Corps
Does Larry’s story resonate with you? Can you relate to his experience? If you or someone you know are 16-25 years old, in need of their high school diploma, and interested in having experiences like Larry’s, apply now at https://www.njycphillipsburg.com/apply-now
You can alternatively text GOALS to 908-859-2969 to begin to learn more about the program