Latisha George Success Story
Mobile Youth Works Program
Latisha George’s story is a 2005 honor graduate of Williamson High School and is presently attending Bishop State Community College, majoring in Pre-Physical Therapy. While in high school, George maintained a 3.66 grade point average but needed help passing the social studies portion of the Alabama High School Graduation Exam. Students must pass the Alabama High School Graduation Exam to receive a high school diploma. She also wanted to take advantage of the MCPSS Summer Youth work program.
According to Mrs. Martha Grace, social studies teacher and Mobile Works tutor at Williamson, "Latisha was a very serious student. She knew the importance of doing well on the test, and her determination paid off." Based on her academic record and participation in the Mobile Works program, George received a scholarship to attend Bishop State Community College.
George worked as an office assistant this summer at Bishop State in the office of the assistant to the academic dean. She learned various clerical skills, including filing, answering the telephone, greeting students, processing mail, and assisting staff members with paperwork. Her supervisor, Mrs. Vivian M. Stroud, reported that she was "very dependable, eager to learn, and accurate." Mrs. Stroud adds that she would love to have Latisha as a student worker again.
Project coordinator Dr. Keflyn Reed and Williamson High School counselor Mrs. Vickie Mason agree that Latisha George is an outstanding example of a student who benefits from the Mobile Works program. She applied herself to her studies but needed the extra assistance provided by the after-school tutorial sessions. George also gained valuable work experience and participated in career exploration, personal enrichment, and etiquette sessions during the summer.
In high school, George was active in the marching and concert bands. She also was a flag girl and completed courses in dance and cosmetology. Latisha plans to become involved in student activities at Bishop State and transfer to Tuskegee University a four-year historically black college in Tuskegee, Alabama, to complete a bachelor's degree, then do a two-year physical therapy program at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. After completing her education, George plans to stay in Alabama.
George says, “Both Mobile Works and Bishop State staff helped me so much with my motivation. Ms. Brenda Bright was just like my personal cheerleader. I also have to credit my parents, in particular my mother, with giving me the guidance and wisdom to make the right choices and to give me self-confidence.” When asked what personal characteristics she thought made her successful, George didn’t hesitate to say, “the self-confidence my mother instilled in me and my personal determination allowed me to focus on pursuing my dreams and I’m so excited about the future!”
Mobile Works knows that Latisha George is going places and we can’t wait to see what she does in the future.