Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Keith Billingsley's TRiO SSS Success Story



I am a veteran of the United States armed forces.   I decided to register for college after a long battle with unresolved issues that came from my military service.  I hadn’t been in a classroom for close to 30 years, and had no ideas about career choices, scheduling options, in-house support, tutorial assistance, financial aid, student government, or activities involving students outside of class.

It was suggested that I go to TRIO and sign up. Lucky for me, my good friend was already involved and had nothing but positive things to say about this organization. He brought me to TRIO, and of course the gentleman running the show told me that I had to complete my registration before I could sign up. There was such a comfort in the people and the setting that I actually went right back and fulfilled my obligations with the administration office so I could get back to this environment of academia that I needed as a non-traditional student.

From the first day here, I have received the support of the TRIO staff and the other students who use this program. I have received help with applications, have been assigned some outstanding tutors, and have been given the opportunity to give back to the program for a scholarship that I received.
Today, because of this program, I have maintained a 4.0 GPA and have been inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. I have a career goal and I am able to give assistance to students who’ve came along behind me needing some of the same support I found here at TRIO. Furthermore, there are a few other veterans who I can network with right here. I value the Student Support Services organization and really don’t know where to find this kind of support outside of this organization. 

Keith Billingsley

Veteran, USMC

Student, WCC


UPDATE as of Spring 2016 

Keith is currently in the School of Social Work at the University of Hawaii at Manoa at on track to graduate at the end of the Spring 2017 semester.

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