The Bridge Program: Allison's Story

Facing your senior year of high school can be daunting on its own. Imagine trying to navigate this important transitional year after your mother’s passing, followed by moving with your siblings to your grandmother’s home, and then losing her, as well, six months later.

This is where Allison found herself as she attempted to get through her final year at Clay County High School.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can have profound negative impact on the life of a young person. The traumas that Allison endured in such a short amount of time are more than anyone should have to bear. It was a survival struggle just to get through the school year; thoughts of college and a future beyond ‘right now’ were the last things on her mind.

A school counselor reached out to make a referral to the Bridge program for Allison, and it proved to be a pivotal moment in her life.

Initial visits with her mentor were a challenge. Allison came to the table with no clear sense of what she wanted her life to look like. She had no career goals or real desire to think about attending college. But over time, through the patient, consistent presence of her mentor, a bond began to develop. Allison opened up, sharing more about herself and her life experiences with her mentor who, in turn, came to recognize enormous potential in her.

Her mentor helped Allison build confidence in herself. Over the course of their ongoing meetings, Allison worked hard to improve her grades and became excited about the possibility of furthering her education.

The Bridge mentor helped Allison with college applications, with prep for the ACT, and with completing her FAFSA for funding consideration. But most importantly, her mentor gave Allison the courage to dream.

She was ultimately accepted into three colleges and received her degree from Glenville State University.

As a direct result of this relationship and The Bridge program, Allison went from trauma survivor to “thriver.” Today, she is living a happy, fulfilling life and still stays in touch with the mentor who had such a profound positive impact, leading her out of a darkness that could have taken her down a much different path, and instead, guiding her into a bright future.