Lesson B Introduction

Barriers and Breakthroughs: Real Worker Stories

In this lesson, you will read true-to-life stories of workers who faced professional

barriers and see how they took action to move forward.

You will meet workers who faced different kinds of barriers at work and in hiring, such as:

Language and communication challenges

Papers or documents (permits, licenses, IDs, degrees)

Experience or education that others see as “not enough”

Stereotypes, bias, or unfair expectations

New technology or systems that feel unfamiliar

For each story, you will notice the barrier, the actions the worker took, and the results they created.

They show that barriers are real, but they are not the whole story.
They give you language to talk about challenges in a professional way.
They help you see strengths like resilience, problem-solving, and asking for support.
They prepare you to build your own STAR stories for interviews later in this milestone.

You do not need a “perfect” path. You already have experiences that show growth and potential.

Think about your own experience and what you have seen around you.

Which type of barrier do you think you will see most in these stories?

Just notice your guess. As you read, see if the stories match what you expected or surprise you.