One of my students who graduated this year sent me a very appreciative card this summer to thank me for encouraging and guiding her in making college plans.
She lives in a small town and is the oldest of six children. When I met her, she stated that she was interested in having a career as a massage therapist or an x-ray technician. I helped her to explore both fields and she decided that radiology was an area with more job opportunities and better pay. I talked to her personally about my brother who was receiving radiation for cancer and brought her information brochures from the doctor’s office. I helped her with research on radiology for her senior project paper on which she received a 93%. Her senior year GPA was a 4.0.
We talked about the logistics of how to go to college when you live in a small town and have no transportation. Together we explored colleges, talked with her guidance counselor, and completed on-line financial aid forms. We discovered that a local community college has a satellite campus close to where her aunt lives. I told her over and over again, that where there’s a will, there is a way!
I last talked to her early this month. She is starting school soon and will be staying with her aunt. She thanks me over and over again for my support. Now all I can do is pray for her success.
Shreen Edmondson grew up in foster care after having lost her mother when she was 9 years
old. Shreen, a young mother of four, spent several years in our program striving to earn her
high school diploma after dropping out of Peabody. CIS was able to be flexible with her schedule
so that she could be a responsible mother while completing her high school education. Of
course, this took a lot of time, but Shreen remained focused and completed all of her required
coursework. While she was a student, she attended our week long BIZ CAMP, where she
competed in a business plan competition. She shared first place, for developing an innovative
plan to create a housing program for young mothers and fathers. After completing our program,
she successfully completed Job Corps certification program for registered nursing assistants;
at the Job Corps graduation, Shreen was selected as the one student speaker on behalf
of her class of over 50 students. She is now working as a nursing assistant and is enrolled in
Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) with an ultimate goal of becoming a registered
nurse.
Anthony Mack is a student who came to CIS after dropping out of school. He came to CIS
and spent a year getting back on track. We worked with him to get a part time job at Eat n’
Park while he finished his high school diploma. At this time, he already had his own apartment
and needed to support himself. After graduation, he attended Community College of Allegheny
County (CCAC) for Business Administration. He is in his first year at CCAC and
proudly made the Dean’s List both semesters.
Der’Ral Patterson is a young man who dropped out of school with only four credits to go. His
family was struggling to pay the bills and he was constantly moving from house to house. He
would often stay with other family members while he attended our program. He entered the
CIS graduation essay contest and won a $2,000 scholarship. This enabled him to attend Community
College of Allegheny County (CCAC), where he is currently attending pursuing a business
degree, while he sings with his band on the weekend.
Communities in Schools believes every child needs and deserves these "Five Basics."