Share your stories
The number is sobering: One-third of Boston high school students drop out before graduation. They leave school and enter life with no high school diploma, and fewer chances at well-paying jobs.
But students still make it through, sometimes in the face of even more sobering conditions at home. There’s T. a young girl whose father was in and out of jail, whose mother somehow put food on their table even when they had no hot water, no heat, and no power. There’s A. whose severe depression forced her out of school for years, but instead of getting a GED, she went back to high school and will get her diploma this month at the age of 21.
There’s been a lot of talk about the quality of public school education. This week, we’re taking a look at the conditions beyond the schools’ doors. Home. Family. Personal lives.
We want to hear from you.
What stood in the way of graduation? How did you make it through? What kept you in school when you could have dropped out? Were there moments you thought you couldn’t do it? Step out from behind the statistics and help us put a face to the success stories we know are out there.
Add a comment to this post, or send an email to radioboston {at} wbur.org
And to all the Massachusetts high schoolers getting their diplomas this month, congratulations.
Listen to the full show:
A number of emails came to us following this show. Here’s one from Sarah:
—
Hi,
I do some work with an organization called “Year Up” that is based here in Boston and was started by a Lowell, MA native to help young adults ages 18-24 go on after high school. It is a program specifically designed to provide job training and professional skills, and then place students into high paying apprenticeships at some of Boston’s flagship companies like Fidelity Investments, EMC, State Street, etc. I thought you might want to let the folks listening to your show on high school students know that this amazing program exists. The program is free, in fact students who are accepted into the program are paid a weekly stipend to get training and college credit.
The way it works is that students do 6 months of classroom training (which includes professional skills like how to walk into a room, look people in the eye and politely introduce yourself), and then 6 months of an apprenticeship. Students are actually paid a weekly stipend to attend the Year Up program and they must sign a contract pledging to do their best while in the program. It is an amazing idea that connects students from diverse backgrounds who do not typically have the skills to land a job paying a “living” wage with the large companies that are continually looking for entry-level, diverse, young workers. It is a perfect match and it works. Year Up was started in 2000 in Boston and is now in Providence, RI; New York, NY; Washington, DC; and soon San Francisco.
Here is a link to their website, so you can read for yourself what it is about.
http://www.yearup.org/
Tonya Brown’s story brought this comment (we’re also sending it to Tonya):
—
Hello,
My name is Andrea Brenner and I am an Asst. Professor of Graphic Design at
Then New England Institute of Art. While doing some yard work on Saturday
June 7, I listened to Tonya Brown’s story. Her number one school she wanted
to get into was The New England Institute of Art. I am writing to help
motivate and help Tanya succeed. I want her to know that I heard her story
and am rooting for her. When she comes to our school, I want her to know
that if she is truly serious about putting in the work and dedication, there
is someone there on her side, to help her succeed and help her make a better
life for herself. While I am not an Audio teacher, I can connect her with
the people that can help make the difference she needs and I can be there to
guide her.
We have so many students with such powerful life stories and struggles. It
is admirable that these students get around the obstacles that face them
daily. Good for them for wanting more and not letting these obstacles get in
their way. Sometimes, it is frustrating as a teacher when students don’t do
their homework or try. It brings great perspective for me to hear these
stories and to remember not everyone may have a bed to sleep in at night but
yet they persevere. I think that it is also very important for Tanya to know
that college is very expensive and a lot of work. If she focuses and works
hard she will succeed. She should be aware of the expense however and how
she will pay for her loans once she has graduated. So many students at our
school are not effected by this “burden” until they are out of school and
realize that the profession they have chosen, may not allow them to make the
payments necessary to pay off their loans. This is something important to
think about, but should not prevent someone from trying as well.
Anyway, the story was great and I respect all the students you interviewed.
Please feel free to get in touch with me if I can be of help to Tanya.
Andrea
Andrea Brenner-Shaevitz
Asst. Professor of Graphic Design
The New England Institute of Art
And this passionate message from Margot,
—-
Dear Radio Boston,
This was a really wonderful hour! I am recommending that my
colleagues at the Roxbury Youth Program where I volunteer all hear it
- and I am also hoping that the high school students I have come to
care about so much will be able to find the time and focus to go to
WBUR and track the audio down. the value of hearing the kids’ voices
first hand can not be overstated. It was also great to hear from Meg
Campbell and the Charlestown HS principal. And, of course, Dr.
Johnson. Here’s the thing. We are all getting very familiar with
the reality that kids are bringing suitcases with them - even as they
begin school - luggage crammed with so many burdens that it’s
astounding when they manage to make the trip through school not only
unharmed but ready for what comes next. What NEVER gets talked about
is the failure of leadership to think systemically and
organizationally about how to support kids. From the very top - of
the system and in each school building - needs to be an unwavering
commitment to staffing schools with people who can help kids make
connections with supports and services that will get them through.
This means student support coordinators, school counselors, school
psychologists, school nurses, and a central office department
absolutely focussed on fortifying and sustaining this work. I was
driving when I was listening, or I would have called in. But I hope
you’ll do more stories like this, with kids talking, in forums where
finally grown-ups can listen and help! Thanks so much
Margot Welch, Ed.D.