Last year’s Journeyman graduation was extra special for Jermaine Barber, as he was selected to be the valedictorian of the class of 2024. After that, he jumped on the Fastrack. “A lot of different opportunities just came to me. Boom… Everything started flowing really, really fast.”
Barber has been giving it his all since he first swung a hammer at the 2020 Los Angeles Combine. He worked tirelessly that day and quickly became one of the standouts. His effort didn’t go unnoticed, and soon after, he was picked up by Skanska Builders for bridge work. The rest, as they say, is history.
So far, the job Jermaine is most proud of is the City of Hope Hospital. “I helped create history… I know what I did, what I’ve done to help build that hospital is helping people overcome cancer.”
Jermaine has always been the type to give 100 percent—a trait he says he learned from his father. He is proud to be a Carpenter because he has seen his hard work and determination pay off and be recognized. “I didn’t expect to be picked valedictorian. But when you give it your all and do everything you have to do, they’ll recognize that. They’ll see it.”
Click here or above to watch Brother Barber’s story in his own words.