High school students grow with Roots to Success

By Trish Allison

In a small room sit 12 vibrant, energetic high school students ready to learn, and ready to kick start their futures.

The young men and women are recruited from alternative education programs and formal high school settings as part of the Roots to Success program, which enables current secondary students to learn in a college environment.

“The impact of the Roots to Success program is significant in that we have the attitude where we’re all teachers, we’re all learners, that when the students come into the program we can recognize that they have skills and abilities that they bring with them,” said Shawn Doyle, co-facilitator of the program.

“And we assist the students to recognize those skills and abilities.”

Roots to Success is a duel credit, adult oriented program (from the Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB), Hastings Prince Edward District School Board (HPEDSB) and Loyalist College) that works with students to help them recognize their potential and invite them into a college environment.

“We both kind of just talked it over with each other, and we just kind of came up with the same idea of we wanted to do,” said Tara Barker, a Grade 11 student at Bayside Secondary.

She and friend Brandy Cole are two students in the current class and both have nothing but positive outlooks and a strong belief that this program will benefit their futures. Cole said some of the benefits include a “professional profile and some more knowledge about how to properly get a good job.”

“We thought it would be a good experience to take because we actually get to go out to a college and learn as a college student,” said Barker.

The program is 14 weeks long, with one three-hour class per week. Class time is a mix of in-class work and SAL  (Student Activity Lounge) work time.  There’s lots of one on one time for each student along with opportunities for increased self-esteem and confidence.

“They see what they can do and they see a picture now and being involved in portfolio development process helps individuals see pictures of who they are and of their lives, where they’ve been, where they are now and where they may like to go,” said Doyle.

“You almost learn things about yourself as well, when you’re working, doing your goals and everything,” said Rachel Musclow, another student in the program from Moira Secondary.

“I just thought it was interesting ‘cause it’s all about you,” she said.

Roots to Success is only two-years old, but the provincially funded program has the numbers to prove it’ll be a success in future years to come. During its first year, the program had an 89 –per-cent retention rate, and a 92- per-cent success rate. Its second year has a 100-per-cent retention and success rate so far.

“The stories have been amazing, how the students felt about this program, how it’s changed their lives in so many ways, how they see themselves differently,” said Doyle.

As part of the program, the students have the opportunity to be a student for the day at Loyalist, giving them the opportunity to put some perspective in their lives.

“All of a sudden it becomes something that’s doable, that they hadn’t ever dreamed of before, and it becomes realistic for their particular lives,” said Doyle.

According to the Roots to Success information power point, when students examine their life history it provides them with a ‘chance to reframe negative experiences and grow appreciation for resiliency and optimism.’

“Once students start to recognize they have skills and abilities, it’s an excellent way to raise our self-esteem and recognizing your sense of self and the value of who you are,” she said.

“People find their genius, the richness of who they are.”