Rebuilding Independence: Mar'cella Lewis' Journey to a New Beginning
For Mar’cella Lewis, returning to work was never just about earning a paycheck. It was about reclaiming her independence, rebuilding stability for her children, and creating a better future.
Mar’cella’s career began the moment she was old enough to work. From retail to management roles in finance and banking, she built a strong professional background and eventually advanced into a senior position at Telco Plus Credit Union. But after stepping away from the workforce to pursue family life, Mar’cella found herself in a controlling relationship. Mar’cella soon realized that she was entirely dependent on her partner for everything and that the person did not have her best interests in mind. Mar’cella found herself needing to remove herself and her children from that situation and start over. “In order to escape, I needed work,” she shared. As a single mother of three, Mar’cella knew she needed immediate stability for her family. Mar’cella had been pursuing a career in real estate through at-home courses, but soon realized she could not afford to wait for success to come later.
“I couldn’t wait for income to come to me. I needed to go find it,” she said. And her search led her to the doors of Workforce Solutions East Texas. “That’s the best decision I could have made, walking through those doors.”
From the beginning, Mar’cella felt supported. Workforce staff helped rebuild her resume, guided her through Work Readiness and Microsoft training classes, and provided encouragement during one of the most difficult seasons of her life. “They made me feel like they wanted me to win,” Mar’cella said. Mar’cella reflects that from her Career Navigators, Amy Hollins and Danielle McClain, to her Outreach Specialist, LaShawn Crawford, to her Business Outreach Specialist, Theressa Jackson, they were willing to invest time in her success.
Before interviewing for a Work Experience (WEX) opportunity at the Law Office of Richard Anderson in Marshall, Workforce Solutions staff conducted mock interviews and coached her through the process, helping her restore and build on her previous skills. That preparation led Mar’cella to an opportunity that changed her life. Soon after the pre-placement interview at the Law Office of Richard Anderson, Mar’cella was offered a placement role as his Legal Assistant. Although she had no legal background, Mar’cella quickly excelled during her Work Experience placement. Surrounded by leadership, mentorship, and opportunities to grow, she discovered a career she genuinely loves. “There is no ceiling to what I’ve learned,” she said. “I’m standing next to people I never thought I would stand next to.” Soon after her placement term ended, her dedication and work ethic quickly earned her a permanent position with the firm.
Today, Mar’cella says the greatest thing she regained was her independence. “The devil really tried to convince me I would fail,” she reflected. “Had I listened, I wouldn’t be here.” Instead, she chose resilience. “I gained my independence. It changed everything for me,” she said. “Workforce didn’t just help me get a job; they changed my entire world around.” Now, Mar’cella has stability, a career she loves, and hopes for the future she is building for her children. What once felt impossible has become proof of what can happen when determination meets opportunity.
Looking back, she is most proud of taking that first step. “Do not become comfortable staying uncomfortable,” she said. “Pray, be resilient, and do not give up.”
“All of this is possible because of Workforce,” Mar’cella said. “The programs should really be something that everybody knows about.” For Mar’cella, Workforce Solutions East Texas provided more than employment. It gave her the opportunity to rediscover her strength, reclaim her independence, and rewrite her story. Today, she is no longer surviving; she is building a future that will impact generations of her family.
