ADVANCE Program Prepares Students To Perform at University Level Academic Support To look at Maria Enden. ajunior from Montgomery. Ala .. one would never know the struggles she has had in getting an educa ti o n. This tal e nt ed. c re ative student direc te d choreography for West Side Story , the Hom coming musica l. Endert studied ballet at a performing arts high school. And. while she had difficulties with her regular c lasses, she did very w e ll with the p erforming side of her education . This was frustrating for Endert and her parents because th y w re told that Endert was a c rea tive person. just not "book smart ." As a result , Endert never gained confidence with her school work. Sh took the ACT, hoping to go off to college with her friends. When her scores came back, she was disappo inted. "Th ACT told me that I had low inte lligence. I was very discouraged becaus I thought I would never get into college ... Enden said. She did, however , receive ballet scholarships from both Duke and Wagner Universities. She chose wagn r and was headed there when a friend mentioned Harding. At the last minute. Endert changed her plans and th dir c tion of her !ife. and headed for Searcy. When she arrived . Student Support Services put her in ADVANCE. a program whi ch helps students bridg the gap between high school and college. according to Dee Bost. program director. She said the purpose of ADVA CE was to bring students to university leve l. Endert's first thought about ADVANCE was . "Oh , no. I'm in here with the dumb kids . It'll be like special ed ." However. Carolyn Priest . a teacher in ADVA CE, helped her over this hurdle. Enden said that it was cons tantly clrilled into l1er mind tha t she l1ad nothing to be ashamed of: it was just a different me thod of learning. Endert's first c lasses w ere ones in which sh could excel and gain confidence. "Mrs. Priest encouraged me a lot ... Endert said. "I was into tYi a ter and the performing ans and she would apply wl1atever she was teaching to m y int eres t." Tl1roug l1 these initia l c lasses . Endert also deve loped goocl s tudy habits and learning skills. In addition to teacl1ing tudy ski lls . ADVANCE also worked with the students on time managemcr 11 and goal setting. Aft er a yea r o f ADVANCE courses . Ende rt w 21s prc1 )clrcci to take mainstream courses. "They s till kept track o f m e to sec how I was doing. It was like having a safe ty harness - they yanked me back if I needed it. I'm still connected [to tl1e program). but not as muc l1 as before ." she said. Endert used her p rforming skills to train tutors for the ADVANCE program. She and ano ther stud nt were hired to act ou t various scenarios for the tut o rs in training. Looking back, Endert sa id that she has lcarn f'ci a lo t tl1rougl1 ADVA CE. She said sl1e has learned more abou t I 1c r academic strengths and w eaknesses and tha t she underst etnds and listens b e tter now . Endert said it was cary to admit tha t she l1ad tro uble learning, but she encouraged other people who have learning problems to s ek h Ip through programs like ADVANCE. "It is still not easy, but it can make a big difference," she said . - Lois Voyles I l<'nry Terrill . oouernm<' lll clocume111s /i/ )roriw1. ill'/ps Allyn ll'a /ker j inn som e i11fom1ulio11 . T/1c lilJrory s1off ll'CIS Olll'Cl!JS Ol'Oi/a/)Je 10 assisl SIU(/('1115. 1'/1010 /Jy Joson l:lun. Dr. Lindo Tilolllpson counsels ,\fe/mly Munin on lime-lllw1ugcme111 skills . The Leorni119 Ccnl('r prouicled 1wori110 one/ 01/ier oco<lemic sen •ices for s111de111s . P/1010 /)!J Joson l:lun. A c u cl e Ill i c s 18 Acaciem i c Supµ or1
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