500 One-on-one Student Appointments
As True To Life Ministries’ student success coordinator, my workday is never dull. Right now, 52% of BISD students are at risk of not graduating, but TTLM is determined to help tired, frustrated, and hopeless students realize that they are strong and support them all the way to walking across the stage at graduation. We are cheering students on to overcome many challenges and obstacles like gang affiliation, drug use, trauma from abuse and neglect, and teen pregnancy. Ashleigh conquered significant challenges in her life, and now she’s going to college! Ashleigh conquered significant challenges in her life, and now she’s going to college!
Ashleigh, a recent graduate, felt the pain too many times of opening up to an adult she thought she could trust, only to have them leave her as soon as she started sharing her story. At first, she was very reluctant to open up to me, but we quickly found common ground over shared interests. After multiple one-on-one meetings, Ashleigh began sharing the most vulnerable pieces of her story, and rather than pulling away, I leaned in. That year, Ashleigh experienced a traumatic loss in her life, and I was determined to maintain our connection. And guess what, she let me be a part of her story! Despite facing multiple hardships, Ashleigh maintained excellent grades and was determined to graduate. She transferred to Brazos Success Academy (BSA), which allowed her to fast-track the remainder of her high school coursework.
Too often, students that I meet have experienced significant trauma at the hands of adults. Many students have a hard time opening up to me in our appointments because they feel that as a whole, adults have not had their best interest at heart and that they leave when things get too emotionally draining.
Right now, students are desperate to connect with someone who can show them how to enter into adulthood successfully. It’s time they know that adults who genuinely care about them really do exist. Please prayerfully consider joining our TTLM student services team as a volunteer student mentor. If you are passionate about helping students break destructive behavior cycles and regain their self-worth, attend our Volunteer Teams Draft Day on June 26th, and speak with a member of our student services team. Click this link for more information about this event:
If you can’t wait, send an email to student.services@ttlm.org, and either Laura or I will reach out to you. Together, we will keep hope alive in our schools!
Blessings,
Melanie Ward
Student Services Coordinator
P.S. I recently conducted my 500th student success coaching appointment! I love these kids and the time that I get to spend with them! Thank you for supporting TTLM's work and making this milestone possible.