High Schooler Transforms From Disappointment to Stellar Student
Award-winning Essay Tells Story of Successful Turnaround
Chandler, AZ (PRWEB) June 18, 2009 -- "Going to NovaNET was the best decision that I've made so far throughout my life. NovaNET has impacted my life in such an immense way. I am truthfully able to say that NovaNET changed my life."
These are the award-winning words of Debbie Cabrera, the Underclassman winner of Pearson's 2009 "In School and Off the Hook" NovaNET Essay contest. As Debbie writes, she entered the 10th grade at Reading High School in a "self destruction mode. I was going down the wrong path. I let myself get influenced by the wrong kind of people. So I got pressured to do the wrong things."
By the end of the 1st quarter she failed all of her classes, and continued on her downward path. "I disappointed about everyone in my life, my mother, my sisters, my brother, and my best friends. Everyone was disappointed in me, they said if I didn't change I would be a failure but no one could get through to me and when things couldn't get worse my mother couldn't trust me or look me straight in the eye anymore. I kept on cutting school and had fun elsewhere."
Suspended from school, Debbie was sent to the school's Virtual Program as an alternative, where she first met up with NovaNET. What at first seemed upsetting turned into a life-changing event. "I thought that this was the most embarrassing and worst thing that has happened to me in my life. But truth be told, night school [NovaNET was one of the biggest milestones in my life and biggest change that happened to me…I cleaned up my act, and I showed up to school and did my work and I stopped hanging out with the wrong crowd of 'students'."
Within a month of beginning to work with NovaNET, Debbie found herself back on track, and motivated to learn. "My night school teacher was so impressed with my progress and how I turned my life around that he called my mom and told her about the efforts that I was making. My mother became proud of me and I started to gain her trust back again.
"Thanks to NovaNET, I can say I am one more who changed her life around. I've truly found myself because of NovaNET and now I can clearly see the person that I want to become. I've changed for the better. And now I am proud to say that I am on the road to success and I am striving to be my best."
As a winner in the essay contest, Debbie received a laptop computer to help her continue with her studies.
"The personalization NovaNET provides and the support of a classroom teacher was all Debbie needed to get back on track," said Robert McDonald, Virtual School Coordinator, Reading School District, and Debbie's teacher. "She was able to work at her own pace, get remediation as needed and celebrate the successes of finishing modules and courses faster than possible during a regular school year. Debbie has transformed from a follower into a self-motivated learner that will positively shape her life for years to come."
"Debbie's winning essay demonstrates her remarkable courage and determination to turn her life around, and not to get caught in the downward spiral that entraps so many young people," said Bob Roliardi, President, Pearson Digital. "With the help of NovaNET and encouragement from her teacher, Debbie created a positive from a negative, changed direction, and is well on her way to a great many more successes in the classroom and in life."
Through the NovaNET essay contest, students are asked to write on a specific topic tied to how NovaNET improved their lives and helped them reach their goals or graduation or equivalent. This year's theme was "Stay in School," with students asked to write how staying in school got them "off the hook." To read the essays from all the winners, visit: http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZgNj&WT.mc_id=DPM09_Q1_DPCR_NN_ESSAY
About NovaNET
NovaNET is an all-inclusive system that delivers a return on investment quickly, from delivering thousands of hours of research and standards-based, interactive curriculum, to integrated assessment and student management. Middle school students use NovaNET to prepare for high school while high schoolers can recover credits, build basic skills and prep for the GED or SAT with the online system. NovaNET is delivered to students online from secure servers dedicated exclusively to the courseware, offering students and schools maximum flexibility. Aligned to state and national standards, NovaNET offers students access to learning success any time, any place at any pace.
About Pearson
Pearson (NYSE:PSO), the global leader in education and education technology, reaches and engages today's digital natives with effective and personalized learning, as well as dedicated professional development for their teachers. This commitment is demonstrated in the company's investment in innovative print and digital education materials for preK through college, student information systems and learning management systems, teacher professional development, career certification programs, and testing and assessment products that set the standard for the industry. The company's respected brands include Scott Foresman, Prentice Hall, Addison Wesley, Benjamin Cummings, PEMSolutions, Stanford 10, SuccessNet, MyLabs, PowerSchool, SuccessMaker and many others. Pearson's comprehensive offerings help inform targeted instruction and intervention so that success is within reach of every student at every level of education. Pearson's commitment to education for all is supported by the global philanthropic initiatives of the Pearson Foundation. Pearson's other primary businesses include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group. For more information, go to www.pearson.com.
Contact:
Rod Granger
Pearson
212-641-6114
rod.granger(at)pearsoned.com
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