Correspondent photo / Sean Barron Susan Mock of Rock Creek, who earned a certificate in Flying HIGH Inc.’s chemical dependency counseling assistant program, hugs Etta Huff, program instructor, during the Professional Development Center’s spring graduation celebration Tuesday in Youngstown. Mock was among 36 graduates who received certificates.

YOUNGSTOWN — A few weeks ago, Dominique Martinez clumsily broke a vase at her home, then took a few moments to reflect on the fact that no matter how well she may have tried to repair the object, it would never fully resemble its original form.

Even though the vase was mere shards of glass after the accident, Martinez could still see in it a reflection of herself.

“I am that vase,” Martinez, 28, of Youngstown, said.

She was referring to the sharp contrast to much of her life that, to Martinez, felt fragmented and broken because of numerous hardships and challenges, yet mixed with a significant feeling of accomplishment that she said has made her a different person.

The latest example of the different person was having been among the 36 graduates who earned certificates at the Professional Development Center’s spring graduation ceremony Tuesday at its North Side campus on Broadway Avenue.

The 36 students earned 38 credentials in a variety of vocational tracks offered at the center, which is a division of Flying HIGH Inc. The programs include welding, chemical dependency counseling assistant, carpentry and state-tested nursing assistants.

Martinez, who took home a certificate in the CDCA track, recalled often having racial epithets hurled at her during her middle school years, which contributed to setting the stage for depression, social anxiety and a few suicide attempts. Martinez also took her life for granted largely because she saw little value in it, she said.

Nevertheless, she sought help from her father, Pedro Martinez, who was a drug counselor and tried to help those with whom he dealt make better choices.

“They would tell me how much he saved them and gave them a different path,” Martinez said, adding that a desire to mirror her father’s helpful ways grew in her.

Consequently, Martinez intends to be a therapist. Beforehand, however, she expressed gratitude toward her peers in the PDC program, saying their determination, challenges and hard work told her that she, too, can achieve seeing the program through.

“If my peers can do it, I can,” Martinez added.

Equally happy to have such a certificate to his name was Aaron Fields, 41, who also graduated in the CDCA program.

Despite being raised in a stable and loving home and supportive schools, Fields began at age 16 first experimenting with marijuana, then more illicit drugs. He also fell in “with a bad crowd,” he said in a testimonial he gave at the ceremony.

Fields, who was raised in Erie, Pa., visited recovery centers several times in that city before entering Glenbeigh Outpatient Center, which Fields credits for reinforcing that he has great potential, even though it took a while for him to realize it for himself.

Fields was eventually referred to Flying HIGH Inc., which resulted in greater achievements for him.

“The quality of life is the best I’ve ever had,” he said, adding, “I’m a walking testimonial.”

Delivering the keynote presentation was Delores “Dee” J. Crawford, community affairs director for WKBN-TV 27 and Fox Youngstown.

It’s easy to define people by their past mistakes and poor choices, then continually remind them of what they have done wrong, Crawford said, adding that carrying one’s past into the present and future is unavoidable. Nevertheless, it isn’t the entire yardstick by which they should be measured, she said.

“I’m here to tell you, your past forms you, it doesn’t make you,” said Crawford, who hosts the weekly program, “In Depth with Dee Crawford,” on Channel 27.

Crawford, who earned a bachelor’s degree in 1968 from Youngstown State University, told the grads and their family members during the outdoor graduation that she began to work at age 14 to support her mother and siblings. Now that the grads have a more promising future, they also are obligated to give back to their communities, she said.

“Look forward to your future. It’s as bright as you want it to be,” Crawford advised.

For her work in providing others with opportunities to improve their lives, along with her efforts to have community members more closely collaborate with one another, Jeffrey M. Magada, Flying HIGH’s founder and executive director, bestowed upon Crawford an Eagle Award.

Also during the gathering, many family members, including Fields’ parents and children, voiced how proud they were of the graduates.

The PDC, which has provided vocational training since 2011, runs two job placement welcome centers, one each in downtown Youngstown and Warren. The center’s job developers work to best match candidates with the right job opportunities.

In addition, the PDC offers case-management services that include an array of financial support efforts as well as pre-employment training and workshops to better assist individuals with becoming qualified and prepared for employment.

To that end, the center has established partnerships with numerous entities that include the Mahoning-Youngstown Community Action Partnership, the Trumbull Career and Technical Center, Home for Good and the Youngstown Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Program.

For Martinez, perhaps her greatest partnerships have been with her peers, she said.

“They are such grateful people — people who are grateful just to be alive,” she added.

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