Crystalle’s Story
Crystalle is 20 years old and was a below-average student in high school. She received her high school diploma, but barely. Her neighborhood public school pushed her through. Throughout high school, she lived with her mom who made sure Crystalle got to school every day, and that she did not hang out on the street afternoons or weekends. Right after graduation, her mom lost her job at a local factory. With no steady income coming in, plans for the local community college were put on hold.
Crystalle soon left home to live with her boyfriend in a cheap apartment. Crystalle worked a year at a convenience store, and supported her boyfriend. Truthfully, she was feeling pretty good about her “adult” life getting started. Then, she got pregnant and gave birth to a daughter named Treasure. Her boyfriend was not happy with a baby in the apartment, or the loss of her income when she had to stay home to care for the baby, so he threw her out. Crystalle’s mother found another job, and welcomed her and Treasure back. With the help of her mom, a steady job at the grocery store, and support from friends who help babysit, Crystalle now has plans for community college.
Crystalle recently took the community college placement exam. She scored so low that she was referred to a General Educational Development (GED) test prep program. It is her only option. If she doesn’t attend the program, she will be forced to pay for remedial math and English classes to prepare for the math and English 101 classes. She and her mom can barely pay for the introductory classes. Financially, remedial classes are out of the question.
Crystalle sees community college as her ticket to getting a decent job, which is key to a good life for her and Treasure. She is trying to stay focused on this goal and, for the most part, she cooperates with the tutoring and study schedules involved in preparation. She reads and writes at about a 7th grade level, and she shows real improvement when she applies herself. Crystalle is somewhat comfortable with technology, having used a cell phone for calls, Facebook, and Web searches. She does not have much computer experience with applications like Word or Excel, and she does not type well, either. She admits she gets frustrated and bored quickly when she doesn’t understand new things, and she hates being judged or looked down on. Crystalle likes tutors and instructors who demonstrate patience and concern for her, but also challenge her. She does better understanding stuff on her own at her own pace, and taking breaks when she get frustrated. She loves to show off what she learns.