Ava Finds Resilience and Strength

After Ava missed a total of 67 days of school during her junior year at Maplewood High, she was referred to CISTN program manager Ms. Jasmyne. One morning, Ms. Jasmyne noticed that Ava was having a rough moment and invited the student into her office to talk. Ava shared that her mother passed away recently, making it hard for her to attend school.

Ms. Jasmyne built a strong bond with Ava, creating a safe space where the teenager shares her feelings, whether in person or over the phone. She learned that Ava struggled with reliable transportation to school, so Ms. Jasmyne now ensures she has a transportation plan and uses CISTN funding to pay for transportation when needed. 

Now in her senior year, Ava leans on Ms. Jasmyne for support and continues to work on grades and attendance goals. Ava improved her attendance by 30 days this year, more than a month of additional schooling. She is passing all of her classes and is on track to graduate on time.

She applied to technical and trade schools with Ms. Jasmyne’s help, and currently plans to attend Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) in Nashville to pursue a career in nursing or phlebotomy.

Ava’s story isn’t an outlier: Right now, 242 high school seniors we serve are applying to colleges, scholarships, and jobs over the next few weeks. Will you donate today to ensure that students like Ava have the support they need to start their college and careers strong?

Ava poses for senior pictures.