The Bay Commitment College Access Network is giving hope for a brighter future to many in our community.
WHAT IS IT: It is a FREE resource for local students that promotes post secondary education. It offers scholarship and financial aid guidance, assistance in choosing a career path and college, access to college resources and the internet, free College Prep Survival Kits, and more!
HOW IT HAS HELPED:
Mirl Flynn’s Story
When Mirl Flynn visited the Bay Commitment College Access Network to learn about obtaining her GED, she didn’t do so for the usual reasons. Rather than economic necessity or job loss, Mirl was prompted to further her education by her love for her grandsons. She aspires to be a strong role model for them, and to demonstrate the importance of education by living as an example.
At fifteen years old, Mirl dropped out of high school to take a job. Now sixty years old, she is preparing for her GED exam to complete her high school education. Mirl has raised her grandson Jordan, a high school junior, since he was six years old. She worries that if she had completed her education, she may have been able to help him more with his studies as he grew up. Jordan has particularly struggled this year, as his primary motivation for staying in school, his love of football, was denied to him. After being told that he was not fit enough to play, Jordan began skipping class frequently. Once Mirl discovered this, she made him promise to go back to school. However, instead of just telling her grandson how important it is to stay in school, she decided to prove it to him by finishing her own education.
In April of 2011, Mirl’s daughter passed away, and she took in her seven year old grandson Maliki. Now that she is raising two grandsons, Mirl feels it is even more vital that she finish her education. “I’m showing my younger grandson that you have to go to school, and my older grandson that you have to stay in school,” Mirl affirmed. The College Access Network provided her with mentor resources to use with her grandsons, and has contacted Jordan’s school to make sure he receives the encouragement he needs.
After her visit to the Bay Commitment College Access Network, Mirl knows what she needs to do to move her education forward. She is studying for her GED with materials from the College Access Network, and is working with the Literacy Council of Bay County. Mirl is also enrolled in a program through the YWCA to better herself. Mirl’s efforts continue to propel herself and her grandsons forward. Although she only set out to inspire her grandsons, her belief in education and dedication to her grandchildren have left more people inspired than she believed possible.
If you need assistance with any aspects of college planning, please call the Bay Commitment College Access Network at (989) 893-6026.
To learn more about this program check out their website: www.baycommitment.org