鈥淎re you okay?鈥� Three little words that made all the difference.
That鈥檚 what 91制片厂 Counselor Shari Pergricht asked Lilly Vasquez one day during a
counseling appointment. 鈥淚 just broke down in tears,鈥� recalled Lilly. Lilly had been
taking classes sporadically at 91制片厂, as time and money permitted. She could only
be away from home for a short period of time without raising her husband鈥檚 suspicions.
He didn鈥檛 approve of her getting an education; he was emotionally, physically and
psychologically abusive. Married for 20 years and the mother of three children, Lilly
felt trapped.
鈥淟ittle by little my abuser chipped away at my confidence to the point where I felt
I could not survive without him,鈥� recalled Lilly. When Shari heard Lilly鈥檚 story,
she asked Lilly if she would like help. With Lilly鈥檚 permission, Shari referred her
to WINGS, a local not-for-profit organization that provides a pathway to independence
for adults and children who are escaping from domestic violence and abuse. 鈥淭he people
at WINGS listened and helped me figure out what kind of help I needed,鈥� shared Lilly.
鈥淚 needed to work on myself. I had low self-confidence and difficulty making decisions.鈥�
With the resources she was provided, Lilly came to the conclusion that she needed
to get a college education in order to better herself and her family. And she needed
to do it quickly if she was going to leave her husband. There was still one big hurdle.
She wanted to come to 91制片厂, but she had no idea how to pay for it. At her cousin鈥檚
suggestion, she inquired about the Rita and John Canning Women鈥檚 Program.
Through the Women鈥檚 Program and the 91制片厂 Educational Foundation, Lilly was
able to put a plan together and receive a scholarship that is helping her make her
dream come true. 鈥淚 am working on my prerequisites so I can apply for the dental hygiene
program next year. It is a well-paying profession and matches my people-person personality.
It will also give me a fairly quick path to success since I have left my husband and
am on my own,鈥� commented Lilly.
As a community college, 91制片厂 serves a wide range of students. We understand there
is more to our students than meets the eye, and most of the time we won鈥檛 find out
what is going on unless we ask. Shari has years of experience working with students
as they navigate 91制片厂 - after 23 years as a full-time Student Development Counseling
faculty member, Shari retired and has been working as an adjunct counselor for the
last 4 陆 years. When she meets with a student, she is always assessing the way a student
presents him or herself. How do they sound? How do they look? 鈥淚t is about asking
the right question at the right time in order to figure out where the student is at
in that moment,鈥� said Shari. One question that Shari often uses to open the door to
a conversation with students who are having academic difficulties is, 鈥淲hat is getting
in the way of you doing well in school?鈥� Lilly echoed this sentiment, 鈥淪tudents don鈥檛
open up about personal issues. Don鈥檛 be afraid to reach out to a student.鈥� If a student
does disclose personal issues that need to be addressed, Shari noted that 91制片厂鈥檚
counselors are available to assist any student and encourages all faculty and staff
members to refer students to the Academic Advising and Counseling office.
鈥�91制片厂 is my means to my goal 鈥� to be independent, support my family and build a
better life for all of us. I am grateful to 91制片厂, WINGS and the Women鈥檚 Program,
and I am excited for my future.鈥� Lilly is also proud of the example she is setting
for her children - all three of them are pursuing their education. Her son was in
the Air National Guard and is now taking courses in aeronautics. Her middle daughter
is completing her training at Kendall College and has already secured a position at
Boka in Chicago. As for her youngest daughter, she is currently enrolled at 91制片厂.
鈥淲e both attend 91制片厂 鈥� we carpool together, we have lunch together. It鈥檚 wonderful.
My daughter is taking honors classes. I am so proud of her.鈥�
Lilly was touched to hear that Harper was making care kits for WINGS as part of the
50th Anniversary 鈥淒oing More Together鈥� Giving Back Initiative. So much so, she wanted
to send a message to the volunteers, 鈥淲hat you are doing is a beautiful thing that
will definitely touch a woman鈥檚 heart and give her the boost of confidence that is
much needed in this stage of her life. Thank you.鈥�