Marco Depas

Marco Depas is a solid 16-year-old student who was looking at the summer after his sophomore year at Grant High School and thinking paycheck. He gets good grades and likes to skateboard with his friends when school lets out.

But he and his mom needed for him to enter the work world and contribute to the household.
He just wasn’t sure how to get a job or what he could do. He was also looking at Oregon’s high unemployment rate, his lack of any job experience and wondering where to start.

Then he heard about UR SUCCESS, a non-profit that helps kids discover their potential, and the possibility of help to get him prepared to work.

“I just filled out an application. It was easy,” Marco said. “I thought it was a free job set-up.”

Before long, he got a call. UR SUCCESS could get him into the Portland Parks and Recreation Lifeguard Training class and cover the $150 tuition.

“I hadn’t thought about being a lifeguard before, but I thought I could do it and would like it.”

Marco took the required classes. “It took four weekends, but it was worth it,” he said. “It was pretty much basic stuff and they taught you everything before they tested you.”

Marco then called Portland Parks and Recreation and scheduled an interview.

He landed a job at the city’s Dishman Recreation Center near his Northeast Portland home.
He has been working every since.

“I like it because I’m making money,” Marco said. “I’m responsible for everyone who swims in the pool’s lives. I’m comfortable with that.”

Marco thinks he would have found a job, but UR SUCCESS opened new doors for him—a door he didn’t consider possible. “They made it a lot easier and faster.”

And how about that first paycheck?

“I bought myself a new skateboard.”