"In youth we learn; in age we understand."
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach
Posted on: June 22, 2012

Archive for June, 2013

An SBL Mentor’s Educational Journey

Posted on: June 27th, 2013 by admin No Comments

 

 

Source: The Toronto Star

MATTHEW ALAY, GRADUATE

 

He made it.

 

The struggling Grade 12 student, who entered his last year of high school at Westview Centennial Secondary School last September, has graduated with honours — for the first time in his life.

 

Even though he only needed two credits to finish his high school education, it was never going to be a slam dunk.

 

The year got off to a bad start as the 18-year-old, long known for his easily triggered temper, got in a fight with another student at school — a momentary return into his old ways that could have forever jeopardized his dream of graduating from high school.

 

He faced charges, but those were later dropped.

 

Alay was upset that he’d lost control considering the stakes were so high.

 

But with the support of the mentoring program Success Beyond Limits, Alay kept going.

 

SBL’s Chris Penrose was devastated that Alay had risked his dream of a high school diploma. But he wasn’t about to bail on the student who was so close to his goal.

 

“I told him we’re not giving up on you as a person. We’re not giving up on your potential,” recalls Penrose.

 

Alay’s graduation this month, “is the fruit of that determination,” he says.

 

He’s stronger now, says Penrose.

 

“He has taken a leadership role at SBL. We gave him the space to fail. He had to make that mistake and learn from it. He’s learned just how much it takes to succeed when you’ve got everything stacked against you.”

 

Alay says his relapse into violence and the subsequent brief expulsion provided him with the opportunity to, “think about what I want, not what someone else wants of me. I had to finally get rid of the negative thoughts.”

 

Alay says he’s excited to embark on his career as a general carpenter, building forms for concrete work. It’s a job he believes will hold his interest and earn him a living, he says. “I want to work and support myself,” says Alay.

 

“I believe I’m going to have a good life. I can’t just live in the moment.”

 

http://www.thestar.com/life/2013/06/27/year_of_lasts_was_a_year_of_milestones.html