Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
music
When I got laid off from my job I found that it was
very difficult to get anyone to
call me in for an interview because I had no degree.
When I came to CCRI I had never gone to college
and everything was hard to access
because I didn't know my way. My primary role
certainly in the beginning of the relationship is to
make sure the student understands the processes here at the college,
that they need to manage, such as enrollment,
registration, financial aid. When I got involved in the mentoring program
it connected me with somebody who knew the way and that
could show me how to get there. Working with Leasa as an individual
really has reminded me of the challenges
that adult students face when they come back to college.
They can see the big picture they've been there they've been through these things
and they can help direct you to take right choices. She doesn't tell me what to do.
But she shows me the options and what the outcomes might be
and there have been a few times when I would have made hasty decisions.
She's helped me step back and make
a better decision. Typically the mentoring process includes
well it always includes a lot of listening.
Having a mentor has been the difference.
Times when I felt like quitting, she was there for that
and then she would say "OK we really know this not what you want to do so
what are we going to do to change things?" Have you ever told anybody you
couldn't do something? and have them say, you can you can?
But its just words. When my mentor says it to me
she means it and that's the difference.
The two year degrees I think are very
much something that adults can handle as a first goal.
Leasa is already talking about transferring to that four year school.
I am hoping to find a job as soon as I
graduate but I will continue to pursue
further education. I have been with my mentor looking
into online schooling to get my bachelor's degree.
My dream will be to start my own business
and I want to work as a behaviorist with dogs.
But in order to do that I need to understand how to run a business.
Then I can have the fun part of just taking a dog
that is ready to be euthanized and instead make it viable
member of someones family in life. Even as teachers
we have students that come and go in our classes,
but with the mentoring program you get to stay with that student from the beginning
to the end. I think that's very special.
I would certainly recommend the mentoring program to any
anyone who feels like they need just a
little bit of support. It will give you the opportunity
to connect with somebody who will be there
and not to judge but to be in your corner no matter what
and believe in you and the direction that your headed.
music