Profiles Of Our Work

She had been home-schooled for several years after failing in other schools due to personal challenges, which she was processing, most notably the abuse that she experienced as a child. She liked the fact that at El Centro de Estudiantes she could choose a focus-area related to her passions. She also liked that the school regularly asks for the input of its students. When she arrived at El Centro, she wanted to work in fashion, and got an internship with a designer whohas a fabric store. With her mentor's help Precious created a ballgown for her mother as her project, which she modeled at her exhibition. This year she is seeking out an internship either in the field of dance or  mechanical engineering. She knows that she likes working with her hands. El Centro has allowed her to strengthen her professional skills through internships and explore many of her passions before even graduating from high school. She also has had the chance to experience college by attending a science class at the Community College of Philadelphia. According to Precious, a lot of her classmates have matured and more are coming to school and working really hard; almost everyone at the school wants to go to college. Precious is definitely looking forward to college: “I am learning about nano-technology at Community College of Philadelphia. My plan is to apply to Drexel; they have an excellent engineering program that I have visited at least six times...at this school, we visit colleges all the time!”

SUPPORTS RECEIVED BY BIG PICTURE PHILADELPHIA: Precious has benefitted both directly and indirectly from the supports of Big Picture Philadelphia. Her learning environment, under the guidance of her Advisor, Khara, has been enhanced through Khara’s own professional development with BPP. Precious has also received direct assistance from the Directors of Real World Learning, who helped her with finding an internship in fashion. The Director of Post-Secondary support has provided her with information and assistance in applying to colleges, such as Drexel, and helped her enroll in a college-level science course at Community College in the Fall of 2010. Furthermore, Precious participates in Seminars in Math and English at El Centro. These Seminars, which started in September 2010, are an intensive course, similar to a college seminar, designed by BPP in response to a need to provide students with more comprehensive instruction in certain coursework. In general, students, such as Precious, are thrilled with the new seminars.

After giving birth to her son, Jonathan, she decided to go back to school the next year, and El Centro felt like the right fit. After numerous meetings with her advisor and the principal she was readmitted and went again through the enrollment process. According to Meme, El Centro is a school where she feels comfortable and supported. She really appreciates the opportunity to have real world experiences, trying different careers. Since having her baby, Meme wants to work in the field of childbirth. She originally wanted to be a Doula, but now she aspires to be a midwife. Being a teenage mom in high school isn’t easy, but Meme feels supported by her Advisor and her classmates. “Khara (my advisor) has helped me a lot; she talks to me about my challenges and supports me in catching up when I have to miss school because of my son.”

SUPPORTS RECEIVED BY BIG PICTURE PHILADELPHIA: Meme has benefitted from multiple supports offered by BPP. Most specifically, Meme has received support from the Directors of Real World Learning in seeking out an internship that matches her interests and passion. She has also benefitted from the nurturing environment the Principals and Advisors have created for their students, based on the guidance of BPP. The flexible and safe environment that Meme so values is a landmark attribute of Big Picture Schools. The Director of School Support has provided Advisors with many best practices in order to ensure this type of environment exists. BPP Director of Student Behavioral Supports is currently working on developing a program that will specifically focus on supporting young parents such as Meme.

She likes El Centro because she feels that it fosters an environment where everyone supports one another. Yarelis has a daughter who is almost one and a half years old. Despite having moved out on her own and the responsibilities of raising a young child, Yarelis is determined to excel in school and be admitted to a good college. She has written numerous college essays as part of her English seminar in preparation for applying, one of which addresses her personal struggles with molestation. Yarelis feels that El Centro has made her like school a lot more. She is mastering Algebra II, as she demonstrated in an exhibition (see photo). She is also becoming a more avid reader: “I never liked reading, I had only read like three books in my whole life. But now I like to read books related to topics that interest me, like violence and rape. At El Centro, I can choose to read these types of books.” Yarelis is also enrolled in a Child Development Associate certification program because she plans to get a part-time job working at a daycare. This opportunity was established by BPP’s Director of Real World Learning. Yarelis says that she likes to be organized (and as a student of El Centro, she is required to practice this skill); she has a section in her binder related to college, including two resumes (one for work and one for education). She has applications prepared for Drexel, Temple, La Salle, Community College of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania. She wants to study forensic science or nursing. Yarelis has faced a lot of challenges in her life, but now she focuses on helping her peers and building her future. “I like to give my friends advice about applying for college, especially about how to write the essays and not waiting until the last minute…”

SUPPORTS RECEIVED BY BIG PICTURE PHILADELPHIA: Yarelis has benefitted most from the post-secondary support she has received from BPP. The Director of Post-Secondary Support assisted Yarelis in learning about and applying to college. He has also worked with Advisors such as hers to ensure that all Advisors are walking students through this process on a regular basis as a core part of class-time. Yarelis has also received support from BPP’s Real World Learning team to enroll in a Child Development Associate certification program. BPP supports have made a big impact in providing Yarelis with authentic, career-relevant experiences, preparing her for college and her future beyond college.