UMaine-CCIDS-Transitions-Cynthia's Story

Youth: Cynthia

Introduction

SNOW

Youth Stories

Chelsea
Amanda
James
Billy
Amy
Amy’s Poem
Elijah
Melinda
Damon
Erin
Cynthia
Nathan
Jesse

Cynthia began attending youth leadership activities in her freshman year of high school. She said she was a little shy but it was obvious that she had a lot of good skills and she was soon jumping in and helping to plan workshops and do training at some major statewide conferences. She was a good team player and had a real desire to mentor other students and help them find success in their schools.

How has doing DREAM and S.N.O.W. Charts helped you reach some of your future goals? What kind of support are you receiving from your school to help you?
The DREAM Collage has helped me to focus on what I want to do and how I am going to do it. It has really helped keep me on track. It gives you a good visual picture of the direction you want to head in. It is also good to do a S.N.O.W. Chart and figure out how you can use your strengths to help meet or alleviate some of the things I needed to do better. My school has been great in helping me. We have a learning center where you can get support and I got accommodations when I had tests. As I got older I learned what I needed to do to be successful. They also supported me to participate in youth leadership activities and I got time off to go and work as a trainer at a few workshops. It really increased my confidence.

Who are the people in your life who have made a difference to you?
Bob McKee is a special education teacher who always encouraged me to keep trying. My parents have also made a big difference in my life. They are always there for me. We always had a lot of animals and I guess this helped direct my vocation. My boyfriend Ben is great and I appreciate him for being there for me.

Has being involved in the youth leadership activities changed things for you in anyway?
Yes, I have become a lot more outgoing and confident. I have become better able to speak in front of groups of people. I think it has made me better at asking people for support when I need it.

What would you tell your peers or younger students about getting support in school? How can they get ready for adulthood?
It helps to have goals to work towards. Especially if they are goals you care about. Let other people know about your goals so that they can help and support you to reach them. It’s easier when you have help. No one can do it alone.

What are the best things that have happened to you over the last year? What are you proud of?
I have really stretched myself these last couple of years. I’ve learned a lot of new things and I learned lots about myself. I was thrilled when I got tapped for National Honor Society last year. I really feel good about the things I’ve done with the youth leadership group. I’ve gotten to learn about organizing and putting a conference together and I think I am a better facilitator than I was. I am really proud of getting 1140 on my SATs. I was able to do it without any modifications. I am also proud of getting the President’s Scholarship and being admitted to St. Joseph’s College. I am looking forward to the future.

Cynthia is now a senior who will be graduating from high school in June. She is well on the way to achieving some of the goals she has set over the last three years. One of the goals was to go to a college and major in Veterinary medicine. She recently heard she has been accepted at St. Joseph College and has received the Presidents Scholarship, which will give her $34,000 toward her college education. Along the way toward this goal, she managed to achieve honor roll status and became a member of the National Honor Society. She is well on her way to realizing some of her life goals.

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Introduction SNOW Youth Stories Chelsea Amanda James Billy Amy Amy’s Poem Elijah Melinda Damon Erin Cynthia Nathan Jesse Parent Stories Teacher Stories Agency Stories MWFY! Home CCIDS Home	Cynthia began attending youth leadership activities in her freshman year of high school. She said she was a little shy but it was obvious that she had a lot of good skills and she was soon jumping in and helping to plan workshops and do training at some major statewide conferences. She was a good team player and had a real desire to mentor other students and help them find success in their schools. How has doing DREAM and S.N.O.W. Charts helped you reach some of your future goals? What kind of support are you receiving from your school to help you? The DREAM Collage has helped me to focus on what I want to do and how I am going to do it. It has really helped keep me on track. It gives you a good visual picture of the direction you want to head in. It is also good to do a S.N.O.W. Chart and figure out how you can use your strengths to help meet or alleviate some of the things I needed to do better. My school has been great in helping me. We have a learning center where you can get support and I got accommodations when I had tests. As I got older I learned what I needed to do to be successful. They also supported me to participate in youth leadership activities and I got time off to go and work as a trainer at a few workshops. It really increased my confidence. Who are the people in your life who have made a difference to you? Bob McKee is a special education teacher who always encouraged me to keep trying. My parents have also made a big difference in my life. They are always there for me. We always had a lot of animals and I guess this helped direct my vocation. My boyfriend Ben is great and I appreciate him for being there for me. Has being involved in the youth leadership activities changed things for you in anyway? Yes, I have become a lot more outgoing and confident. I have become better able to speak in front of groups of people. I think it has made me better at asking people for support when I need it. What would you tell your peers or younger students about getting support in school? How can they get ready for adulthood? It helps to have goals to work towards. Especially if they are goals you care about. Let other people know about your goals so that they can help and support you to reach them. It’s easier when you have help. No one can do it alone. What are the best things that have happened to you over the last year? What are you proud of? I have really stretched myself these last couple of years. I’ve learned a lot of new things and I learned lots about myself. I was thrilled when I got tapped for National Honor Society last year. I really feel good about the things I’ve done with the youth leadership group. I’ve gotten to learn about organizing and putting a conference together and I think I am a better facilitator than I was. I am really proud of getting 1140 on my SATs. I was able to do it without any modifications. I am also proud of getting the President’s Scholarship and being admitted to St. Joseph’s College. I am looking forward to the future. Cynthia is now a senior who will be graduating from high school in June. She is well on the way to achieving some of the goals she has set over the last three years. One of the goals was to go to a college and major in Veterinary medicine. She recently heard she has been accepted at St. Joseph College and has received the Presidents Scholarship, which will give her $34,000 toward her college education. Along the way toward this goal, she managed to achieve honor roll status and became a member of the National Honor Society. She is well on her way to realizing some of her life goals.