Student Success Stories
Copeland Andrews
Growing up in Jamaica, Copeland’s family did not always have the money to pay for classes or the required uniforms for school. At an early age, Copeland fell behind in reading and writing. Despite his efforts to continue his schooling, during the periods his family was financially able, not many teachers wanted to take the time to help him catch up with his peers...
A Literacy Perspective
My name is Kevin Tolson and for one year my colleague, Allison Garren, and I worked as Americorps members with the Orange County Literacy Council. As part of the Corporation for National & Community Service, our Americorps responsibilities included tutoring and mentoring students who were grappling with their particular challenges related to reading and comprehension, writing, and math.
I am a Survivor — by Anthony Brooks
I grew up in the church along with my brothers and sisters. I was always around someone preaching, reading scripture from the Bible, and bein’ in church a good part of most Sundays. What we called “Livin’ in the Word” meant trying, striving to live our lives as close to GOD as possible. My Dad and Mom were church-goin’ people. I’m not sure if my Dad finished the third grade, or when my Mom dropped out of school, but I know my parents did not finish high school. We were poor and lived off the land. My Dad had and believed in a strong work ethic. On our farm in Caldwell, North Carolina, we all would be up by six o’clock in the morning doing our chores. I had to feed the pigs, pick vegetables and shuck corn...
