Hello, I am Hailey, and I graduated from MPower Learning Center in 2024. I am currently in training to become a youth pastor and director at my church. I never expected to go into the ministry field, at such a young age but every day I am slowly recognizing the potential and skill I have gained after the past few years. I am also doing a cosmetology course this year, since I have always taken an interest in beauty and self-care. Being able to complete my schooling at 17, because of the flexible curriculum (GED) that I could complete at MPower has opened a ton of doors for me, so you could say things are going well.
Before MPower, I attended a government school for my first year of high school and it was so draining, which was not healthy. I felt a little hopeless. My grades were suffering, and the workload was more than I could handle. I felt like I had no time to spend on my hobbies or with my friends and family, as I was constantly studying or completing some project or another.
Then, my dad discovered a place called MPower Learning Center. My parents immediately took an interest in this, because they wanted a place where I could still have a social life and get one-on-one tutoring to improve my grades and help me see my full potential. This was exactly what MPower provided. After thinking I was just not “smart enough” for so many years, MPower showed me a caring nature, not just with my academics but also with my mental health.
At MPower, the facilitators start from where your understanding is, the foundational knowledge needed to further build on, which is a concept I never understood or saw from mainstream schooling.
I also quickly discovered that I was pretty good, and really enjoyed Math and would get really good results. However, it was difficult for me to let go of my old habits from mainstream schooling, and I had to work on my approach and accept that learning happens through failure sometimes. I had to learn not to take shortcuts. I really struggled with my reading, because it was a skill I never learnt and thought I wouldn’t ever be good at. Not having that skill caused me to find shortcuts and basically set myself up for failure. My facilitator at MPower, Sadie, showed me that if I asked for help and we could figure out the root of the problem, together, then it would make a long-term difference in my overall ability.
Something I carry with me always is the approach that Sadie had. I felt understood and heard, on what my academic shortfalls were. Sadie showed me how, with help and practice to strengthen and build my confidence, I could tackle any academic task. This made me see my true potential. That showed me that I am truly in an environment where people teachers care. I am proud to say that I passed my RLA Ged exam with flying colors, because of the help and encouragement that I received from my facilitators at MPower.
In terms of my future life choices, MPower has truly prepared me for the real world. Yes, I was taken through everything step by step, but everything they do is to help you with your future. School is an essential part of life, but so is a stable environment for you to feel comfortable and recognized. MPower has shown me to recognize my full potential and stop taking shortcuts to hide what I am fully able to do. I would say the step that I am currently taking is testing that, but that’s okay, because I’ve been down this road and was well supported through it.
The GED curriculum helped me grow academically without comparing myself to my peers, and best of all there was no homework, so I would have plenty of time for extra hobbies that I never got to do in the mainstream schooling. I prepped so well for my exams and was able to go at my own pace, there was a lot of time given, yet no time was wasted.
I also formed such amazing friendships with my peers and special bonds with different facilitators, it would always feel like a second home because of how welcoming everyone is. Every day in our class we would leave with a core memory. We are not limited when it comes to being ourselves, we could make jokes to light up the environment and when it came to working, we would work. These little memories showed me that MPower is a place filled with fellowship, you won’t leave without a friend.
For anyone having similar struggles, I know that MPower is the place for you, and you can create your own standard instead of comparing. You will truly grow mentally and academically at MPower and won’t feel as if you are wasting time, because their goal is to see you leave with skills and tools for your future. I want to say thank you to the MPower Learning Center for seeing my value and coaching me to be the best version of me.