For decades, economically challenged students of all ages have affordably acquired the skills they need for better jobs at one of Maine’s seven Community Colleges. For individuals working multiple minimum-wage jobs and struggling to pay their basic expenses, even community college tuition can be out of reach. Add in the disruption of the pandemic, and thousands of Mainers were at risk of being left behind.
Thanks to the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan, every high school student who graduated from 2020-2023 is eligible for free tuition at the Maine community college of their choice. To give students struggling to find their way even more direction, the Maine Department of Education Adult Education team, in partnership with local Adult Education hubs, has established the College and Career Success Program. Thanks to funding from the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan, every Maine Community College has a College and Career Success Coordinator. Part career counselor, part admissions advisor, part life coach, these compassionate individuals work one one-on-one with adult learners who need extra help discovering and pursuing careers that match their skills, strengths, and interests.
“Don’t say anything’s impossible until you talk to me.” Those are the exact words of Aimee Morrison, Washington County Community College’s College and Career Success Coordinator. “I don’t care whether you’re 16 or 96 years of age or how long it’s been since you were in school; we have resources and support systems for anything standing in the way of you pursuing your dreams.”
From helping her students apply for the right college courses to referring them to other community organizations or adult education programs, Aimee and her peers’ jobs are all about enabling nontraditional learners or people struggling to find their way to live better, more successful lives.
Fraternal twin brothers Jacob and Joshua Story are two students Aimee is currently working with. Out of respect for their privacy, we’ll simply say that Jacob and Joshua haven’t had it easy. With no financial support from their parents, no jobs, and very little money, the boys’ post-high school prospects were dim. Fortunately, Jacob and Joshua’s high school guidance counselor reached out to Aimee.
“While both Jacob and Joshua are extremely interested in graphic design and gaming, I’m helping them explore different paths that align with their interests,” Aimee explained. While Joshua is ready for the structure of college, Jacob prefers working with his hands. Despite their differences, both needed computers to take the next step on their career paths, but neither could afford them.”
After reviewing Joshua and Jacob’s tech needs, we recommended basic Windows laptops for both of them. Because neither brother could afford the $230 participation fee (this fee covers a portion of our costs to acquire and refurbish our clients’ computers and install the software they need to fulfill their goals and provide free training and technical support), we tapped our scholarship fund and provided their laptops for free. “I didn’t want a laptop to be a barrier to them going to school, so I’m glad I found give IT. get IT. and I’ve told my colleagues about you as well, ” Aimee said.
We’re glad Aimee found us, too, and we’ve been telling all of our clients about the free career counseling available at all of Maine’s community colleges. Aimee and her fellow College and Career Success Coordinators have access to Wowi, an online career assessment tool that helps people identify their strengths and recommends career paths that match. “These resources aren’t just for recent high school grads like Joshua and Jacob,” Aimee explains. “We can help any adult learner. Wowi not only lets us identify new career paths, it helps us identify the types of work environments a person is most likely to thrive in so they can apply at companies that fit their criteria. I encourage anyone who doesn’t know what they want to do or is struggling to make ends meet at their current job to reach out to me or the College and Career Success Coordinator at the community college nearest you. We’re here to help you!”
As the first semester winds down, we asked Aimee for an update:
“Joshua is doing well in his courses. He was struggling the first part of the semester and reached out to me for support. I was able to help him with time management, organization, and navigation skills with his online courses. I reached out to his professors and advocated for him for additional support. The professors were thrilled that he reached out and provided him with accommodations. He was able to turn two F’s into A- and B+ and is no longer at risk for repeating courses. He is excited for his first semester to end, and we are looking into getting him into some computer courses next semester to align more with his interests. I was able to get him connected with Vocational Rehab through the Career Center, and he has been diligently applying for jobs in the area and going to several interviews. He has not found work yet; but he is not letting the rejection deter him. He is eager to be the first person in his family to complete college.”
“Jacob is torn between responsibilities with his full-time job and the pressure of a full-time course load. We were able to reduce him down to part-time without losing any financial aid or college credit. He will be continuing with the part-time schedule specifically online as he struggles with social interaction, and the online platform works better for his work schedule. I continue to offer support through resources and one one-on-one advising. He is optimistic but still undecided about his future. We are looking into resources for him this spring for driver’s education and financial support with obtaining a vehicle once he receives his driver’s license.”
If you’d like to help us help more people like Joshua and Jacob acquire the low or no-cost computers, training, and support they need to reach their full potential, you can make a make a tax-deductible donation to our scholarship fund.
If your company has unwanted technology that we can reuse or recycle, please email Allen Cornwall or call him at 207-615-2956.
