DSC_0316

 

 

 

 

 

Marc Churchville made it through his senior year at Cheltenham High School in 2014, but he didn’t pass. “The school was fine, but I couldn’t concentrate,” Churchville says. Unable to focus on the work, Marc would socialize with his classmates while his grades suffered.  Without his diploma, he needed a path. Looking first at the Community College of Philadelphia, he soon directed his attention Mercy Neighborhood Ministries thanks to the influence of his grandmother, Betty Smith, who happens to work in the MNMOP Finance Office.

“My mom and my grandmom definitely pushed me through,” Churchville says. “They didn’t want me to go through life without an education.”

With a foundation from CCP and Cheltenham, Marc enrolled in the Adult Education program in the fall of 2015. He struggled with history more than any other subject, but over four months, he successfully completed the program, earning his GED in February, 2016.

While not far removed from the classroom, Marc is taking an approach to college that will give him a different experience.

“I spoke with a recruiter from the Marines last week,” he says.

Joining the Marines will require 15 credits, so he is currently looking at Job Corps to gain experience and credits before he can join. Marc believes the Marines will provide a pathway to a career and a direction in college.

If he had to tell current students what they should to stay on track? “Buckle up,” he says. “Because it’s not easy.”

Congratulations to Marc on this achievement and we wish him luck on this new journey! mr.gambler

Share This