Marian graduated from the Mae C. Jemison High School College Academy with 60 credits from UAH in 2020.

CAP & GOWN has changed my life and my family’s lives for the better. The program lifted me from an impossible situation, the likes of which I never would’ve escaped on my own. My parents didn’t graduate from high school, and no one above them ever went to college. Because of this, growing up was a constant struggle of never having enough. There was never enough time, money, or even love. College simply seemed like another thing we were destined to be kept from, and this seemed to be confirmed when one brother graduated high school with no prospects and another dropped out.

The summer after my sophomore year it occurred to me ACT testing was approaching and I hadn't prepared for it in any way. That summer I met the STEM Summer Institute, a program run by the CAP & GOWN Project. This program develops long-lasting relationships with students and teachers with the same goals as myself; to succeed and to ace the ACT. New bonds with new people inspired me to strive for a higher ACT score and a different career. As a result of STEM, I set a goal to raise my score from a 23 to a 30, and decided on my future college and career pathway: teaching.

My junior year was different from any of those before it, because I finally had a dream that didn’t seem so unattainable, and people to help me get there. I continued with CAP & GOWN, attending whenever my work schedule allowed. That spring, I got a 26 on my ACT and instead of feeling defeated, I pushed harder than ever. I attended STEM SI for the second time, and emerged feeling prepared for the path to college and hopeful about my ACT score. After three more tests, I ended with a 29. I had a choice to either be disappointed in myself for not reaching my goal of a 30, or being proud and thankful that I had grown six points overall. I chose the latter. This really made me want to be a teacher more, as I felt this overwhelming need to give back to the same community who had given me everything.

Marian is now a full-time UAH student pursuing a degree in English.

This past summer I had the opportunity to put my dreams into practice and teach at STEM SI. It was a surreal experience to teach students who had previously been my peers, but it was a true inside look at what my future would be. I plan to continue working with CAP & GOWN whenever possible, because this program is something everyone should be trying to be involved with. For my family, it has pulled one child up into college education with no student debt, and is currently aiming to pull another as my younger brother has now joined.

I would especially like to thank Ms. Heller, Executive Director of CAP & GOWN, for always being available for questions, constantly sending scholarship applications, and championing her students, as well as Devyn Keith, City Council President, for being unwaveringly dedicated, and getting me out of work for college tours/scholarship interviews. They always believed in me when I didn’t even believe in myself.

Click here to watch Marian’s CAP & GOWN lessons on our YouTube channel now.

From Star Student to CAP & GOWN Teacher