|
|
|
|
I was a single mom with two small children and no income. My son, Scott Cullen, was enrolled in the West Bloomfield, Michigan Head Start Program at the age of 4. After he graduated from Head Start and went to his own elementary school, he showed outstanding qualities and was quickly asked to enter the Magnet Gifted and Talented Program, coincidently at his old Head Start school building. Scott was graduated from nearby Walled Lake Western, along with playing football, baseball and basketball and working part time at the pizza place. He went on to attend the University of Michigan-Dearborn and graduated two years ago with his mechanical engineering degree. Although he has not been able to find employment in his field, he is busy working and restoring the house that he purchased after graduation — all with his own hard-earned money.
My daughter, Tracy Cullen [click here for Tracy's Success Story], entered Head Start at the tender age of 3. She was so small, she could not get into the bus and the bus driver always carried her onto the bus and into the school! Tracy had some difficulty with learning disability (ADHD) but was swiftly diagnosed and treated and in no time was at the top of her class. She was graduated from West Bloomfield High School and attended several colleges before getting her Masters' Degree in Social Work from Wayne State University. Although she has been unable to find employment in her field, she is very interested in any program that gives children a "Head Start" in life. Her particular interest lies with autistic children and making sure they get hooked into all the help available to them and their families and this is where she did her internship.
While the children were in school, I went back to school and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and am currently working with a software company, training and testing software. Through the years, I held positions such as President of our local Parent-Teacher organization and Chairperson of many committees.
The number of life lessons that our family learned could not be enumerated. I attribute most all of our accomplishments in the educational field to Head Start and the support we all received from that program, from the school Principal to the Head Start teacher and all her helpers.
The contacts that were presented to us, in terms of community assistance, are still being used to refer other people in similar circumstances. We still share information about special programs and assistance available to those who are starting out just like we did. Most especially is our dentist, whom we have been with since he did the children's dental work free for Head Start children.
Many will say that most of this success would have happened without the aid of the Head Start Program. But just ask someone who participated in the program and you will find that they do not believe that is true and credit Head Start with much of their current success. Our family certainly does.
Sincerely,
Terry Yarbrough
|