The future of our country is in good hands, from what I have recently seen. Here are the stories of three people willing to work hard, develop skills and start career training programs. Their stories show that if you want to enter or re-enter the job market, you will do a lot better if you prepare well, even in a tough economy.

Two are young men just graduating high school this June. The other is a middle-aged woman who has embarked on a new career path. What is great about all three is the time and effort they put into planning how they will make their goals achievable. Each involves continuing their education on a part-time or full-time basis.

Let’s start with Jack (all names have been changed to protect their privacy). He wants to be a game warden. Jack knew a friend who was a game warden and he sometimes traveled with him on his job. Jack liked what the game warden, did to help the environment and stop people from doing illegal acts. He sees this as a noble and worthy job.

Jack wants to be a leader one day and likes the idea of interacting with many people, without having to do the same thing everyday. Jack thinks this is a dream job for him, because he was active in sports in high school, and really likes hunting and fishing. To prepare for becoming a game warden, Jack will attend a local community college to earn credits in the core educational courses needed to attain that job.

Stan is another aspiring young man. He admired his cousin’s job, working at an out-of-town, large manufacturing company. With his cousin’s help, Stan started to learn about the world of computer numerically controlled machinery. Using that information, Stan started to work as a CNC machine operator last year, on a part-time basis, for a local metal machine shop.

Stan liked the job and felt that the employer liked him and his work at their company. The owner of the company is known in the community as an honorable and ethical small business leader. In fact, the owner made Stan a wonderful offer. He said that the company would pay Stan’s evening college costs after he started working full-time at the company’s day shift, as one of their CNC machine operators. Stan feels it will take him five years to complete his college education, but he likes what he will be doing.

“I am a hands-on type of guy that feels like contributing,” said Stan, who expects to take advantage of the offer for a full-time job with the company, along with their support for the cost of his education. Everyone wins in this situation.

Now let’s talk about Kim, who is starting on a new career in nursing. Kim is a bright person who already has advanced college degrees, but has found it tough to get jobs that would allow her to support herself while paying off her college debts. Kim is single now, with a grown child living away from home. She hopes that a nursing career will allow her to pay her debts and manage her expenses.

When Kim finishes her nursing studies, she expects to have a satisfying career. The demand for skilled nurses is growing, and with Kim’s background, many opportunities including various medical administration jobs could open up for her in the health care field.

All three persons have planned well for their futures. They all currently work at part-time jobs to earn extra money. Each one is driven to do well by preparing, and then following, a plan to get a job. One important thing is that each of them will be going to college to learn specific skills that will help them in their future jobs.

If you enjoy what you do, and can do it with skill and passion, the workforce needs you. But a good plan, along with learning new skills, can create more opportunities. Think about the training Jack, Stan and Kim are taking. They are working hard to make their career dreams come true.

If you want a better future, reflect on where you have been and where you would like to go for that future job. The right educational training is crucial to make it happen in this constantly changing economy.

— Bernard Featherman is a business columnist for the Journal Tribune and former president of the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce.