On the Job: Otavian Flowers 

In the years since he graduated from TeenQuest, 2012 Carman-Ainsworth graduate Otavian Flowers credits the program for his success.  

“Being out of TeenQuest for over 10 years, it says a lot that I have retained that information,” says Flowers. “Even though I haven’t had an interview for years I still believe that if I apply for any job, I can get that job.” 

Flowers spent time in both TeenQuest, a career readiness leadership program, run through Flint & Genesee Education & Talent, and the Summer Youth Initiative (SYI), a summer employment program also through the same organization, and both programs set him up for his later success. 

After graduating high school, Flowers was hired full-time to work at Outdoor Adventures, where he had worked during the summer with SYI. They trusted him enough to hire him as third shift security. After that, Flowers took a job at McLaren Hospital where he works as a patient transporter and has been there for 11 years. He also works for Xfinity as a residential technician, where he has been for 7 years. “I used the skills that TeenQuest taught me and got in there,” says Flowers. 

At Xfinity, Flowers works with clients and has become a dual tech, and after taking a class, is now installing fiber. What drew him to want to work with fiber was the possibilities it opened for his career.   

“I have something under my belt that most people don’t have,” he says. “I already understand the industry. It helps build my resume.”  

It’s the future that Flowers has his eye on.  

“My main goal is to get not be working every weekend,” he said. “Understanding fiber, I can take that anywhere I go. I want to just build on doing fiber and possibly transition to a different company doing that.” 

He attributes all of his jobs and his growing career to TeenQuest.  

“I credit everything to TeenQuest – how they developed me to develop these interpersonal skills”, he says.  

How did lessons learned TeenQuest/SYI help you on your path to your current position? 

The lessons that helped me were staying grounded and having hope that I will execute what I learned. TeenQuest taught me everything, but you can’t do anything without putting an action to it. That’s what TeenQuest taught me – you have to have confidence within yourself. 

What skills did you use from TeenQuest/SYI when interviewing for your current position? 

Think before you speak. Process the question. It’s OK to take a break. You don’t have to answer right away but you have to answer the question. 

What advice can you offer to current TeenQuest students? 

Believe in yourself.