UMaine-CCIDS-Transitions-Holly's Story

Agency: Holly

Introduction

SNOW

Two and a half years ago, I began working with a young lady through my job as a case manager with Community Health and Counseling Services (CHCS) in Lincoln , Maine. This young woman I will call Susan, was young, very shy, and struggled with both her schoolwork and her self-esteem. Little did I realize that over a four-year period she would gain the skills to see a brighter future for herself.

I stepped into the picture after she already began to do some work for the Penobscot-Piscataquis region for the Committee on Transition (COT). As I began working with Susan, we kept running into problems where she could not meet with me because she was attending seminars here and there for the COT. At the time, I had no earthly idea what the COT was. As the time progressed, I saw Susan attending more and more COT functions and at the same time saw her self-esteem growing. I started hearing about her desire to attend college and I soon learned that this was a major step for her as there are only a small number of young people that move on from foster care into college.

In the beginning, Susan talked about DREAM Charts and S.N.O.W. Charts and strategies for College. She discussed Goal Planning and Action Charts. She told me about going for weekends to different schools and locations to make presentations to other students about what they could learn from the Council on Transition Workshops. I wondered to myself “is this the same shy Susan that I know, going to talk in front of a group of people about her life and how it is changing?” She was metamorphosing right before my eyes. It was over a period of time but gradually I could see the change. The more she became involved, the more she matured and became involved in the community and her school.

Susan accomplished so many goals, becoming a member of the National Honor Society, manager of the girls' basketball team and was President of the school's chapter of the Future Homemakers of America. She became confident enough to write weekly articles for her local newspaper about the activities of the vocational school that she attends. She also served as honorary Page of the Day at the State House for Maine State Senator Mary Cathcart of Orono. For a time she assisted a program called Goals 2000 at her vocational school where she taught local senior citizens and others how to operate computers. Susan’s goal is to attend college and become a computer programmer.

I feel that without the COT program, Susan would not have uncovered the skills that she needs in pursuing a future for herself. With the opportunities that she had to travel about the state and speak at and attend seminars, she developed organizational skills that she previously did not possess. She had a chance to look at what she wanted out of life and how she would go about obtaining that. She also learned how to advocate for herself, a skill that many young women her age do not possess. The Committee on Transition has been a critical piece in Susan’s future and being one of her providers, I am very grateful that the program exists. Susan hopes to continue assisting the COT program from her college location if that is possible. Her first-hand experience will help enrich the lives of many other young students learning to find their own future goals.

It is my hope that this program continues to assist young people in discovering their goals, developing their self-esteem, and exploring their futures. I would highly recommend this program to any providers working with youngsters that are in the critical stage of transition into independent living. This is an excellent support network for them.

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Introduction SNOW Youth Stories Parent Stories Teacher Stories Agency Stories Holly Helen Peter MWFY! Home CCIDS Home	Two and a half years ago, I began working with a young lady through my job as a case manager with Community Health and Counseling Services (CHCS) in Lincoln , Maine. This young woman I will call Susan, was young, very shy, and struggled with both her schoolwork and her self-esteem. Little did I realize that over a four-year period she would gain the skills to see a brighter future for herself. I stepped into the picture after she already began to do some work for the Penobscot-Piscataquis region for the Committee on Transition (COT). As I began working with Susan, we kept running into problems where she could not meet with me because she was attending seminars here and there for the COT. At the time, I had no earthly idea what the COT was. As the time progressed, I saw Susan attending more and more COT functions and at the same time saw her self-esteem growing. I started hearing about her desire to attend college and I soon learned that this was a major step for her as there are only a small number of young people that move on from foster care into college. In the beginning, Susan talked about DREAM Charts and S.N.O.W. Charts and strategies for College. She discussed Goal Planning and Action Charts. She told me about going for weekends to different schools and locations to make presentations to other students about what they could learn from the Council on Transition Workshops. I wondered to myself “is this the same shy Susan that I know, going to talk in front of a group of people about her life and how it is changing?” She was metamorphosing right before my eyes. It was over a period of time but gradually I could see the change. The more she became involved, the more she matured and became involved in the community and her school. Susan accomplished so many goals, becoming a member of the National Honor Society, manager of the girls' basketball team and was President of the school's chapter of the Future Homemakers of America. She became confident enough to write weekly articles for her local newspaper about the activities of the vocational school that she attends. She also served as honorary Page of the Day at the State House for Maine State Senator Mary Cathcart of Orono. For a time she assisted a program called Goals 2000 at her vocational school where she taught local senior citizens and others how to operate computers. Susan’s goal is to attend college and become a computer programmer. I feel that without the COT program, Susan would not have uncovered the skills that she needs in pursuing a future for herself. With the opportunities that she had to travel about the state and speak at and attend seminars, she developed organizational skills that she previously did not possess. She had a chance to look at what she wanted out of life and how she would go about obtaining that. She also learned how to advocate for herself, a skill that many young women her age do not possess. The Committee on Transition has been a critical piece in Susan’s future and being one of her providers, I am very grateful that the program exists. Susan hopes to continue assisting the COT program from her college location if that is possible. Her first-hand experience will help enrich the lives of many other young students learning to find their own future goals. It is my hope that this program continues to assist young people in discovering their goals, developing their self-esteem, and exploring their futures. I would highly recommend this program to any providers working with youngsters that are in the critical stage of transition into independent living. This is an excellent support network for them.