This month we wanted to feature an inspirational story for our Student Spotlight. Meet Miranda Leonard.
You may have seen a short video that Miranda made and shared on our Facebook page a few weeks ago. Miranda is one of those young people who takes obstacles and turns them into opportunities.
Miranda resides in a very rural county in southern Ohio. She was seventeen years old when she found out she was pregnant. She listened to others tell her how her dreams of graduating and going on to college were all but extinguished now that she would soon become a young mother with limited resources. But Miranda only listened for so long.
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Miranda Leonard works diligently in her VCS classes at Sojourners-Vinton County, located in McArthur, Ohio. She also assists on various Youth Build projects which benefit the community. In these projects, Miranda earns NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) industry certifications she can take with her into the workforce after graduation.
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She decided to take online classes through VLA, an online curriculum offered by her school district, which gave her more flexibility in her class schedule. VLA is online, but the learning isn't supported through live instruction. "It was hard to concentrate because the classes were boring and if you had a question, you were kind of on your own to figure it out," shares Miranda. "It just didn't feel like I was learning anything to tell you the truth."
That's when Miranda discovered Sojourners in McArthur, Ohio. Sojourners is a local agency designed to better the future of young people ages 16 to 23. They provide resources through the foster care system, government-assisted adult living and job training skills. Miranda had been in the foster care system and was now about to age out of it. Sojourners would provide her not only the chance to earn her high school diploma, through their partnership with VCS, but also some job skills that would give her the chance to bring some skills into a future job.
Miranda easily adapted to VCS's online courses and quickly began earning her needed credits for graduation. "I like VCS a lot because if I have a question, I can call my teachers and I know I'll get an answer. I feel like I am really learning in these classes," confesses Miranda.
At Sojourners, Miranda takes her high school courses three days per week, and works at the agency's recycling Center or on YouthBuild projects. The program's recycling center offers students the chance to learn logistics skills as they make appointments to receive scrap metal and aluminum, weigh the incoming metal and arrange for crushing, reweighing and shipping out the metal, once it has been processed. "The students are in charge of the whole process and have even designed our warehouse here to maximize space and efficiency," shares Sojourners Site Director Jeff Fite.
Miranda also has the chance to learn and practice carpentry skills that will give her NCCER certifications should she choose to work in the construction trade. Sojourners is one of 300 national YouthBuild agencies in the United States. They practice the skills they learn in the community by building handicap ramps and other projects that benefit members in their local community.
Miranda was lucky to have the help of very caring foster parents, Maryanne and Craig Brumbaugh, who wanted her to succeed. Even after Miranda became pregnant with her second child, she didn't want to give up on her dream. The Brumbaugh's helped Miranda by allowing the rent she paid to be applied toward a land contract on a rental home they owned. Now Miranda and her family: Emma, now 20 months, and Roderick, 6 months, along with their father Derick, can focus on their future. "I don't want my children to settle for less, that's why I can't either," says Miranda.
Miranda still has to complete her English IV class but she is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. She currently has a 3.14 G.P.A. and is motivated to make graduation a reality. Miranda is even working on her classes in the evenings so that she can finish on time.
"My dream is to go to RioGrande College and take their one-year Phlebotomy program so I can become a Phlebotomist," shares Miranda. "I may even decide to continue on and get my 4-year degree in Nursing!"
Every day Miranda looks into the faces of the little ones that depend on her and every day her resolve is a little stronger. "I know that I've had some chances that maybe some others haven't had, she confesses. "I guess that's why I want to use those opportunities and make them count for something!"
We admire your determination and desire to excel, Miranda. We look forward to seeing you in that cap and gown on May 30th and celebrating with you! Just 85 days to go!
