I am a Trio success story. Here is my story. In the Spring of 2005, I returned to Windward
Community College as non-traditional student.
I had been out of school for twenty years, had gotten divorced and had
just pulled myself out of some rather traumatic lifestyle events. I was Thirty-seven years old, single, living
in public housing with my daughter and really had no direction and no real
employable skills. My life was on the
brink of unmanageability and I knew I
had to do some changing if I wanted to get my life back, to add to that, my
seventeen year old daughter had just given birth, so now I was a grandma
too. I needed some serious direction for
my life.
At 37 years old, I decided I would return
to school and go after an education. I
didn’t know what career or degree program I was heading for; I just knew I
needed to become educated so I could move towards a career and not just a
job. My first semester at WCC saw me
exploring resources that would support my educational goals. At thirty-seven with very little money and no
discipline I really needed to access resources for educational support,
mentoring, social relationships and help to locate scholarships. I found all of these on campus at the TRiO
center.
I linked with a TRiO counselor and got
wonderful guidance for classes and career possibilities; I became a regular at
the computer lab and participated in the educational workshops that were
offered. I learned where to locate
scholarships in the community and even about a potential job opportunity with
one of the Trio programs, Upward Bound.
I was able to pick up a summer job through Upward Bound mentoring high
school youth as they participated in college prep summer school classes. I spent six weeks staying at the UH Manoa
dorm and working with the students on their studies.
Upon earning my Associates of Arts Degree
in Liberal Arts at Windward Community College, I was accepted into the
University of Hawaii at Manoa in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human
Resources. While at UH Manoa, I
immediately linked with the Student Support Services (SSS) program on campus and utilized there
resources to the fullest extent. I met
with counselors regularly to be sure I was on the proper track for my
educational goals, I spent time in the computer labs, accessing the free
printing (which is an incredible resource for a low-income college student) and
attended all the events offered. I was
also offered a SSS waiver for a summer school session, which was an invaluable
opportunity for me to complete my education in a timely manner.
As my Bachelor’s program got near
completion, I decided to continue my education and applied at the University of
Hawaii, Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work to earn a Master’s Degree in
Social Work. Through the mentorship of
the director at WCC’s TRiO program, Roy Inouye, and my other professors, I was
provided with outstanding letters of reference supporting my application for
admittance into the Master’s Program.
The counselors at Student Support Services at UH Manoa assisted me
throughout the application process and I was admitted into the program.
On May 15, 2011, I graduated from the
University of Hawaii at Manoa with a Masters in Social Work. I completed 6 years of education, and
throughout my journey TRiO was there all the way. I am currently serving as a Substance Abuse
Counselor at Hina Mauka residential treatment program. I am serving others through my education,
exactly the way I was mentored and told it could happen. All along with my journey I was given
incredible encouragement that I could become a professional and help people by
becoming educated. TRiO really did help
to make this happen in my life.
Not only am I helping
by utilizing my social work degree, in addition all three of my children are
attending college too. The program at
TRiO works and it keeps on working, even generationally. I am a proud member of the TRiO family and a
success!!!
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