Final Class: "Reflection Potluck"

The final day of CYAP class with the 20 or more bustling young adult students felt more like the end of an extended family reunion. Along with their final portfolios, each student brought something for the potluck party we had to close the course. Students were asked to share their reflections with the class. Several students volunteered to read their reflections while others preferred if the instructor read it. The reflections were poignant and passionate. Many students expressed thanks to the staff for the support they provided during the 10-week course. Other were simply proud of themselves for making it through the program, whether or not the passed the GED exam, because it would be the first time they stayed enrolled long enough to complete an academic course. They were also expectant and binding in that the students had to write their future plans on paper. Many of them have never done this. This very act of writing down their aspirations, I think, will give theme extra drive to accomplish them. The caseworker closed the reflection session with inspirational phrases, in a poem, from the book “The Road to Success is Always Under Construction” by Larry Wall & Kathleen Russell. The quotes focused on staying on course and coping with success and failure. Some quote examples are:

“A turtle makes progress when it sticks its neck out.”

“Failure is the path of the least persistence.”

“Seek joy in what you give not in what u get.”

“Success comes in can's failure comes in cant’s.”

The caseworker recommended that the students add this to their room walls to pull strength and inspiration from in time of frustration, depression, or stress. This demonstration continues the “community building” fostered by CYAP. These students know they can reach out to professionals in CYAP after graduation from the program for advice and guidance.

Of the 30 students in the CYAP GED class, 20 are expected to pass the GED and two are boarder line based on the predictor exam. This is a total of 22 possible success stories from the program. The other eight students, because of attendance, participation, and poor GED predictor score, will not be allowed to take the GED exam. Basically, we expect approximately 73% of the students to pass. I am proud to have been part of the transformative process in these burgeoning lives.