Connect2Complete: A Conversation with Joshua Connect2Complete Mentee – Cuyahoga ... ·...
Transcript of Connect2Complete: A Conversation with Joshua Connect2Complete Mentee – Cuyahoga ... ·...
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Connect2Complete, a program of Campus Compact supported by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, works with nine community colleges in Florida, Ohio and
Washington to utilize peer mentoring and community-engaged learning as strategies for retention of low-income, developmental education students.
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When Joshua was enrolled in a developmental math course, he had the support of a Connect2Complete Peer Advocate. Joshua’s Peer Advocate was able to help him better understand the college and get insight on different professors, and she helped him complete a service-‐learning project. Joshua focused on an anti-‐bullying campaign to help reduce teen suicides: “I realized that other people have problems and they need your help.”
In addition to helping with service-‐learning project off the ground, Joshua’s Peer Advocate supported his transition to college: “They’re there to help students in their transition to college. They help students who are not sure who to go to. They are the go-‐to people. Some people are intimidated to approach staff, so it’s helpful we have a student available.” Looking to the future, Joshua has plans to transfer to earn his bachelor’s degree too, “I might as well keep going,” he explains.
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Like many students, Joshua Becker didn’t go straight from high school to college. In fact, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to go on to college. But after being out of school for six months, Joshua realized he wanted to be the first in his family to graduate from college. Now, Joshua is in his fourth semester at Cuyahoga Community College, majoring in Information Technology. At first, Joshua didn’t feel at all prepared for school: “I wasn’t under the impression that classes in college would be that much harder. I have been in special education classes all my life, so transitioning to mainstream courses was a big change.”
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Connect2Complete: A Conversation with Joshua
Connect2Complete Mentee – Cuyahoga Community College, OH