Jessi was enrolled into the Palmetto Youth Connections Program in November of 2013. She attended homeschool until she completed the eleventh grade. She decided to complete high school by taking the GED exam. So she started taking classes at Pickens County Adult Learning Center in October 2013. While she attended GED classes, PYC assisted her with transportation reimbursement costs. We also assisted her with ALC fees such as the GED exam fee, books and graduation fees. With PYCs support, Jessi earned her GED in December of 2013. She received the incentive offered for this achievement and was very thankful.
While attending classes, Jessi also took the Work Keys test and earned a silver level. She received the PYC $50 bonus for this achievement.
Jessi wasn’t able to enroll into postsecondary education right away but is now a full time student at North Greenville College, where she is studying Elementary Education and will eventually earn her Bachelor’s degree and become a teacher. Jessi will receive the laptop computer and $75 incentive for entering college. Her confidence has soared now that she is realizing her dreams.
Palmetto Youth Connections has provided incentives and encouragement to Jessi while in our program. We asked her how PYC has helped her to achieve her dreams and she responded:
“Well, let’s just start with how I dropped out of high school and thought that my life was over. That’s when PYC stepped in and gave me the opportunity to have dreams. They stepped in and helped me get my GED. I also got paid for attending classes there, and they allowed me to get my Work Keys as well. Because of PYC, I have an outstanding job at a Child Development Center, and I am currently a freshman at North Greenville University as an Elementary Education major. My life has changed because of PYC.”
Jessi went from dropping out of school to completing high school and becoming an employee and a full time college student. She is ecstatic to be fulfilling her goals and PYC is thankful to have been a part of her journey.
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