Jun 9, 2009 7:27 pm US/Eastern
Westchester Program Gives Troubled Students Hope
Reporting
Cindy Hsu
MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. (CBS) ―
Mount Vernon High School has the lowest graduation rate in Westchester County, with only 65 percent of its students earning a diploma within four years. A new program, though, is starting to turn things around.
Ziggy Scipio thought he was a lost cause, and never dreamed of going to college.
"I wasn't planning on going to college because I never thought I would make it out in the real world," said Scipio, who now attends Hudson Valley Community College.
That's until Nicole Paige and the staff at The Guidance Center got a hold of him.
"People tell them that they can't do it and they're not going to accomplish anything and I let them know that that's not true, that you can turn that negative energy into positive and that should motivate you even more," Paige said.
The school targets the students at high-risk of dropping out and helps them get into college. They're often the first in their family to go.
"This is all I know: Once I stepped out of that I find out there's a lot better things I can get myself into, work around, not just the four square miles I've lived in all my life," Scipio said.
Scipio is now a college freshman, and hopes to become a physical therapist.
The program started last year, and out of the 22 seniors who participated, 18 are now in college. This year, The Guidance Center is helping more than 90 students. Among them is Jeremy Johnson, who plans to pursue graphic arts, and says Paige's guidance is key.
"She doesn't force herself on me and tell me what she wants me to do," said Johnson. "She kind of takes what my interests are and what I like to do and shows me the right path in getting there."
Felicia Clarke is now waiting to hear from John Jay College and hopes to become a police detective who works with young people. She said The Guidance Center took away the fear of the unknown.
"They taught me how to be patient, that ot everything is going to work out the way I want it to work out, not to be so scared," she said.
Paige is thrilled to be able to help so many students.
"At first coming into it, everyone said, you can't save everyone, but I still think feel that I can and I'm going to keep trying until I do," she said.
Right now The Guidance Center's career program is only in Mount Vernon High School. The non-profit group is hoping to expand to more schools in the near future.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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