Chocolate Chip Cookies (fresh from the oven) as an Educational Tool

By Claudia Kittock

‘What are those?’

‘Chocolate chip cookies, still warm from the oven!’

‘Can I have one?’

‘Of course!’

‘These are really good!  What do I have to do to get 2?’

‘Come to GED and chat with us!’

That was how I started my work at YouthLink. My career has been in education, and I was instantly excited about the GED program there. Tutoring someone to help them earn their GED is gratifying work, and work that helps people move along in their journey through life.

The average dropout can expect to earn an annual income of $20,241, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That's a full $10,386 less than the typical high school graduate, and $36,424 less than someone with a bachelor's degree. In 1970, the United States had the world’s highest rate of high school and college graduation. Today, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, we’ve slipped to No. 21 in high school completion and No. 15 in college completion, as other countries surpassed us in the quality of their primary and secondary education.

Only 7 of 10 ninth graders today will get high school diplomas. A decade after the No Child Left Behind law mandated efforts to reduce the racial gap, about 80 percent of white and Asian students graduate from high school, compared with only 55 percent of blacks and Hispanics.

YouthLink is a day shelter for people ages 16-23. The mission and vision of YouthLink is to support and empower young people on their way to self-reliance. Dr. Heather Huseby, Executive Director, explains that the most important work we do at YouthLink is to help our youth to identify themselves as someone on a journey. Once a young person identifies themself as ‘homeless’ it becomes a much more difficult journey.  Identifying as “Jonnie who wants to be a musician, but is temporarily experiencing homelessness’ is a stronger position, and one that is hopeful, healthy, and realistic.

The GED program at YouthLink is headed by Educational Navigator, Sarah Crompton.  She recruits young people who do not have their diploma yet, tells them about the program, and does an intake interview.  Sarah also trains and supervises a small group of volunteers who tutor the youth.

Once a student is identified, they take the GED practice tests in the computer lab at YouthLink.  There are 4 categories (reasoning and language arts, social studies, science, and math), and are taken one at a time. A passing score for each subtest is 145.  After taking each practice test, the student will get a score that indicates whether they are likely to pass.  If they are not likely to pass, there is a printout of sources that can be used to study, and even pages in those books the student will need to go over.  That is where the tutor comes in.

As a tutor, I may do the intake interview, set up the pretest, go over the test results and/or work on the suggested work with each student. Each person has different needs, different strengths, and different areas of concern.  We work on whatever will help.  As we work, we get to know each other, exchange stories, and discuss how to do well on the GED test.  Taking a test is an entirely different skill than understanding math.  While we work on understanding in all of the test areas, it is also essential to teach and help with test taking skills.

Most of the students I work with believe that they aren’t very smart, and, hopefully leave understanding that just isn’t true. These are tough, resilient people.  As Sarah Compton says, “Seeing youth work toward their educational goals and plan for the future despite the obstacles they face in the present is the highest honor. Working with our youth is an education in fortitude.”  I leave every day inspired and uplifted because of the true courage I see in my students.

If the idea of helping at YouthLink is something you want to consider, there are several ways.

Volunteer—Go to http://www.youthlinkmn.org/get-involved/volunteer/

Financial Donations---Go to http://www.youthlinkmn.org/donations/

Donate Items—Go to http://www.youthlinkmn.org/get-involved/donate-items/

Springboard Fund---Go to http://www.YouthLinkmn.org/donations/

The young people I have met are working to better their lives, to find work, and to further their education.  They dream like every other person of their age and working with them on that dream matters, to them, and to us!

Claudia can be reached at claudia@millcitymedia.org