Student Success Stories
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Yesenia
Yesenia got in with the wrong crowd in high school and was constantly skipping classes. Before long, she was considerably behind in credits and would not be able to graduate on time with her class. Realizing her predicament, Yesenia enrolled in Gateway to College at Montgomery College so she could make a fresh start with her education. She entered with only 9 credits and a 1.0 GPA. Yesenia blossomed during her time as a Gateway to College student. She volunteered to speak to many important audiences about her experiences, including presentations on Capitol Hill and to the Montgomery County chapter of the American Association of University Women. She also was interviewed in Spanish on Montgomery County Public School's TV news program targeting Spanish-speaking families. Like many Gateway students, Yesenia needed to work full-time to help support her family. She was able to fulfill her high school requirements by taking classes in the evenings and on Saturdays. Yesenia graduated from the Gateway program in June 2009 with her diploma and more than 61 college credits. Yesenia is continuing her studies at Montgomery College to complete her Associate of Applied Science in paralegal studies and then plans to transfer to a four-year institution. |
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Josiah Josiah entered Portland Community College's Gateway program in the fall of 2006 at age 17. He had 9.5 high school credits and a 2.5 GPA, which was high considering the chaos in his family and personal life. His mom was an alcoholic and dad a workaholic which led to a divorce. Needing stability, Josiah sought other living arrangements but wound up moving frequently between the homes of his friends. He attended five different high schools within a span of two years. Every time Josiah moved, it was in the middle of the semester, so his credits didn't transfer and he needed to repeat the classes. According to Josiah, high school "didn't fit my needs as a student. I felt teachers didn't show an interest in me...and lacked passion for the subjects." Gateway to College provided an ideal learning environment — with more support and higher expectations. He earned a 3.1 GPA during his first term and a 3.5 GPA in his second term, putting him on the Dean's List. Josiah consistently achieved academic excellence, including earning a 4.0 GPA three times. He was also the Vice President of the Phi Theta Kappa, a college honor society. Josiah graduated from Gateway to College in June 2009 with his high school diploma and 117 college credits. He is continuing his education at a small college in Michigan, and hopes to eventually attend law school. "I want to do everything in my power to help people see between the lines that divide right and wrong. People are unsure how the laws work. They do not know history, are confused about policies and have been mistreated. Helping others, making the world a better place and someday caring for my family is all I have dreamed of." Josiah possesses the drive, integrity and steadfastness to succeed. He looks back at his struggles as an important experience. "Without the opportunity of Gateway, I wouldn't have gotten this far in life." |
