Monday, April 22, 2013

Summerly Botelho-Jamorabon's TRiO SSS Success Story



How has TRiO SSS helped you/what services have you used? Does it work?

Coming back to school and entering college at the age of 35 was an emotional rollercoaster for me. I was terrified and felt that I would not fit in. Therefore, to my surprise when I entered my first class at Windward I was not the only one that felt that way. I met a wonderful lady who became a dear friend of mine who introduced me to Trio Student Support Services. After hearing about the program, I went there and was greeted with much Aloha and open arms. Hence, being a first generation non-traditional college student I was eligible to enroll in the program. After, enrolling and becoming a Trio participant I found that I was not the only one that was trying to find balance in life of 5 classes, maintain a GPA, working full-time and still be able to be a mother to my 5 children.

Trio has helped me in so many ways with the services that they provided and still provide for me. Since I was out of school from 1993 to fall of 2009 I needed to understand what was needed to be a non-traditional student in college and trio gave me this.

The many services they provided me were free one on one tutoring twice a week in whatever class or classes I was struggling with. This helped me excel in my classes. Helped me with the different scholarship opportunities, registering with classes, watching my children when I attend night classes and gave me computer usage and free printing. They also assisted me in deciding in what career I wanted to do. Not only did Trio provide academic support but they also gave me the emotional and motivational support in whatever life threw and still throws at me at times.  If the Trio program cannot help with your turmoil the staff will make sure that they will find ways to support students in whatever the student is trying to overcome.

If it were not for Trio Student Support Services I would not be where I am today. I have accomplished many goals that I set forth for myself. In fall 2012 I graduated with my A.A in liberal arts with a GPA of 3.6. I got accepted into the Myron Thompsons School of social work program at UH Mānoa in fall of 2012. I am in the process of getting my B.A in social work. As of right now I maintain a GPA of 3.7 with working part time and maintaining my family. I owe all of this accomplishments and me reaching my goals due to the help of this astonishing program.

Trio student support services helped and assisted me and so many others that I have gotten to know along my academic and personal journey in life. Like every Trio participant says “Trio for Life”.

UPDATE as of Spring 2016 

Summerly graduated with her Bachelor's in Social Work from the University of Hawaii at Manoa at the end of the Spring 2014 semester and her Master's in Social Work from the University of Hawaii at Manoa at the end of the Spring 2015 semester.

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