After I graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1992, I thought it would be a good idea to work and make money for at least a year. However, in order for me to continue living in my parents’ house I had to attend college. There was only one problem; I had a horrible ending GPA when I graduated from high school. After the unspeakable things I went through during my childhood into adolescence, I admit I did not want to ever see another school, especially not a college!
So after doing some quick research on technical colleges I made a hasty decision. I decided to attend Kee Business College and received a certificate in Data Entry. After just nine short months I graduated and (sad to say) the campus where I attended closed their doors indefinitely. This was devastating news for me, because that meant I had to find employment without the assistance of my career counselor who was responsible for helping the graduates find employment. It was understood when I enrolled that these counselors would provide us with that service, which was included in our tuition. I was just 19 years old, with no real job experience in the data entry field, and I knew I needed help from somewhere if I was to become gainfully employed. This journey would lead to several failed attempts at gainful employment for the next 14 years.
With all that I had been through after completing my certification and having no real significant job leads, also the negative perception I had of my own self, I found myself being led on a journey that I consider my path of sheer destruction. I felt like a real failure with no real ambition. In hindsight I would say that I was depressed. I tried to find happiness in external things, such as, sex, drugs, and alcohol. In 1995 I had my first child and I quit my job. I decided to try going back to school, this time at the Virginia Beach Campus of TCC. I would find out later that it was not such a good idea because I failed the only credit course I had (English 111). Honestly all I wanted to do was party and I realized I was not really ready to return to school. I was 21, going through a stage of rebellion against adulthood, and I was not ready to face responsibility.
There were many things that happened from the time of my first child up to where I am today, including two more children, homelessness, drug addiction, alcoholism, and prostitution. However, it was the birth of my last child in 2005 that things began to change. These changes did not happen all at once, but little by little I found my life (as it was) being turned upside down in a good way. From me moving into a new place after being declared homeless for nearly two years, starting college (TCC Norfolk), finding Christ who set me free from my addictions, it has truly been a tremendous eye opening experience.
My most exciting transformation has been attending college at the Norfolk TCC Campus. Since I have been enrolled at TCC I have become an above average student. It would not have been possible if it were not for the Open Door Project. The faculty and staff there have been so supportive of my needs and my personal goals. I know that I can be a little bothersome at times; however they have not let my obvious colorful personality offend them. Aside from the fact that I have God’s grace in my life, if it were not for Open Door I really think I would not have achieved my current academic success of a 3.5 GPA. Thanks for putting up with me and helping me to see what I could achieve if I just buckled down and got serious.
|
I began my academic career with Tidewater Community in 2005. At the time I was (and still am) employed by Norfolk Public Schools in the Virginia Initiative Pre-K program as a teacher’s assistant. I love my job and the people, big and little, that I am blessed to be with everyday. Many of these people (angels in disguise), including the teacher I worked with every day, suggested to me the prospect of becoming the “teacher” some day in the future. Me, go to college? How? As a teachers assistant I was being paid $9,000 dollars below the national average, and my husband working for a contractor at the ship yard earned little to pay for college. We still had our two boys ages 16 and 11 living in our modest Bay View home and to tell the truth, I couldn’t wait to finish high school. I was adamant that I was not going to college when asked of my future plans by my parents and school guidance counselor. Besides the fact, that now at the age of 45 my mind is not as sharp as it was back then!
My TCC journey began with the help and guidance of a parent of one of my pre-k students, CPO Sean McDonnell, a young navy Dad who helped me see the teacher I could be. He guided me through my first FAFSA application, and online at that! To my surprise, I was awarded enough money to take four classes my first semester in the fall of 2005. I managed to buy used books, and went Mon-Thur for the next two semesters. Although the monies awarded have almost disappeared, I have managed to find other resources with the assistance of the Open Door Project.
In the beginning of 2009 after a common surgery, I was told I had ovarian cancer, something that I never expected as it was not in my family medical history. I had just begun spring semester and was blessed again with the VCCPSP providing the money needed to pay for classes that semester. My husband, the good man that he is, suggested that I withdraw and resume after recovery. Absolutely not was my response! Dropping my classes was not an option. I had come too far to stop now, besides the fact that if I withdrew, I might not be eligible to receive any more state scholarships. My husband drove me to the Chesapeake and Virginia Beach campuses to continue and complete the semester. Without his support and love I would not have been able to complete my classes.
The support, guidance and mentoring of the Open Door Project throughout my academic experience at TCC has been a true blessing that I am truly thankful for. I know that this will be my last semester at TCC as I have one class left to complete for graduation. I have a 3.792 GPA and have remained on the Presidents List since fall semester 2006. I feel confident that with the assistance and guidance provided by the Open Door Project that I will continue my journey to becoming the “teacher” and I look forward to moving on and completing my B.S. in Early Childhood Education.
|
