From First Paycheck to Firm Foundation: Meet Christian

Christian, 16

Earning a first paycheck is a huge deal. Knowing how to manage it is another story entirely.

That distinction set Christian, 16, apart.

Last summer, when Christian’s first payday rolled around at his very first job — working part-time at First Glass of Arkansas — Christian had a plan. He didn’t spend his paycheck; not all of it, anyway. He paid back his parents for something they’d covered for him, then he made a small purchase for himself. And he saved the rest.

It was a plan he had thought through with his coach in Immerse’s LifeBASE Teen transitional living program.

In the months before he had that check in his hand, Christian had been working with his Immerse coach to build skills that would equip him for successful adulthood — preparing a resume, practicing job interview questions, understanding how credit cards work going over financial concepts like the 80/20 spending rule.

When they started, Christian was a bit shy and uncertain of what he wanted to do for work. But he showed up to every coaching session polite, respectful and willing to give his best.

His hard work and positive attitude paid off when he earned a summer job at First Glass.

The job came through a partnership between Immerse and Tiffin Hubbard, owner of First Glass. In May 2025, Hubbard asked to collaborate with Immerse by providing summer employment opportunities for youth. Christian excelled, and Hubbard noticed — he invited Christian to continue working at First Glass through the school year.

“It’s been amazing!” Christian shared, adding that First Glass “has been a great place to work. My co-workers and boss have been really kind and helpful.”

Today, Christian is thriving at work and in school. He’s saving for his first car. The wins are significant; so is the discipline behind them. With the tools he found at Immerse, Christian is rewriting his story by making everyday choices that are laying the foundation for a restored future of stability.