Jessica Downie came to Mayland to start on her career path to becoming a nurse. First, she began in Mayland’s Basic Skills Department at the college’s Avery Campus where she earned her GED. Currently, she is enrolled in curriculum classes that will help her become a nursing student at Mayland. Downie will share her experiences as the guest speaker during the 2012 spring GED graduation ceremony on May 4.

“I was scared because it had been so long since I had been in school, and I really didn’t have confidence in myself,” said Downie on returning to start on her GED. “As soon as I walked through the door at Mayland, everything became a lot easier because everyone was so nice and helpful. The teachers had so much confidence in me.”

The Mayland Community College Learning Labs are currently celebrating 40 years (1972 – 2012) of adult education services to our local communities. Last fall the department set a goal to reach GED graduate number 7,300 before the upcoming May 4,2012, graduation. This worthy goal was attained, reflecting an average of 182 Mayland Community College GED graduates annually over a 40-year period.

Downie says she has always loved helping people and is intrigued by the medical field, so nursing seemed to be a good career fit for her. At first Downie said she was not sure what to expect when she enrolled in college, but with the support she received at Mayland from the Basic Skills Department to the curriculum side, her confidence has grown.

Downie will also be awarded the Rotary of Avery County Scholarship during the spring GED graduation ceremony.

“It is such an honor to receive this scholarship and will give me a chance to breathe while I am taking classes,” said Downie. “For anyone considering going back to school, the resources to help you succeed are available. Whatever is holding you back, try to get past it and continue your education so you can be what it is that you want to be,” said Downie. “

Downie resides in Avery County with her husband Andrew and two stepchildren Andi and Avery.

Mayland’s Basic Skills Department will hold the spring GED graduation ceremony on May 4 at 7 p.m. in the Sam Center Auditorium on the college’s Mitchell Campus. Everyone is welcome to attend.

A team of Mayland Community College math students recently participated in the 18th annual Gainesville State College Math Tournament in Georgia. Students Brian Pham, Ryan Ray, Michael Letterman, and Nick Walker trained and competed in the event. Mayland instructors Larry Shook and David Pittman served as faculty support and traveled with the students to the tournament.

The Mayland Math Team competed with over 125 over community college students from the Southeast. The tournament consisted of math problems through the level of Calculus II. There were individual contests as well as team contests. The individual contest consisted of a timed, 40 question math test. The top competitors moved to the next round. The team completion had ten rounds of questions for the team to problem solve. Mayland’s team did not reach the medal rounds.

“These students spent a lot of time preparing for this tournament and learned a lot of math,” said MCC instructor Larry Shook. “ They had a great time and were great ambassadors for the college.”

A team of Mayland Community College math students recently participated in the 18th annual Gainesville State College Math Tournament in Georgia. Pictured are MCC students Nick Walker, Michael Letterman, and MCC instructor Larry Shook. On the back row from left to right are MCC instructor David Pittman, MCC students Brian Pham and Ryan Ray.

All 58 of North Carolina’s community colleges met Thursday, April 19 to celebrate excellence in education during the third annual Excellence Event, “The Great Within the 58.”

Mayland Community College Horticulture student Austin Elkins of Burnsville was one of the students honored during this event.

“My success cannot be accredited to me only, first and foremost I must thank God Almighty for allowing me the great privilege to achieve the grades and accomplishments that He has so blessed me with, said Elkins. “If it had not been for the loving support of my family, church, and the learning atmosphere of the classroom, the encouragement of my classmates, and the excellent effort of my instructors’ to help me reach my full potential, then none of this would be possible.”

Elkins is a part time employee, full time student, and young preacher who is currently considering achieving his bachelors degree in agriculture education from North Carolina A&T’s online program and at the same time earning a bachelors degree in theology online from a local theological college.

“I know that my time at Mayland Community College is well spent because of the experiences in life and hands on learning tools that have come to help me achieve great goals and realize what I really want to do with my life,” said Elkins.

The awards ceremony honored students including Academic Excellence Award recipients from each college, the Governor Robert W. Scott Student Leadership Award recipient and the Dallas Herring Achievement Award recipient.

The event also honored Distinguished Partners in Excellence, Staff of the Year, Excellence in Teaching, President of the Year and the prestigious I.E. Ready Award recipient, the highest honor bestowed by the State Board of Community Colleges.

The event is part of a week-long celebration of “North Carolina Community College Excellence in Education,” as proclaimed by Governor Bev Perdue. Nearly 600 community college students, presidents, trustees, partners and supporters are scheduled to attend the event at the Raleigh Convention Center, which is supported solely by non-state funds.

Additional information about the awards and recipients can be found on the NC Community Colleges Excellence Event Web page at http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/pr/Awards/ExcellenceEvent2012/

Pictured are MCC President Dr. John Boyd, MCC Board of Trustee member Edwina Sluder, MCC student Austin Elkins, and MCC Director of Admissions Dr. Monica Boyd at the NCCCS’s annual Excellence Event, “The Great Within the 58.”

We had the best time,” said Stewart. “The classes were fun and we learned a lot about children and their development.”

Stewart said enrolling at Mayland with the smaller class setting and family atmosphere helped her grow and develop her self-confidence. It was easy for her to transfer her credits in continuing her education.

“You can start here [Mayland], and you can go anywhere,” said Stewart. “Mayland provided me a start and then I could go anywhere from there with my education.”

Mayland’s Early Childhood Education Program prepares students to work with children from birth through eight in diverse learning environments. Course work includes child growth and development; physical/nutritional needs of children; care and guidance of children; and communication skills with families and children.

Graduates are prepared to plan and implement developmentally appropriate programs in early childhood settings. Employment opportunities include child development and childcare programs, preschools, public and private schools, recreational centers, Head Start Programs, and school-age programs.

When Stewart finished her Early Childhood degree, she knew she wanted to teach so she continued her education at Lees-McRae College in their Elementary Education Extended Campus Program that meets on MCC’s campus. After graduating with her Bachelor’s Degree, Stewart did not find her self in the classroom, but in another position – she was hired to work with the Department of Social Services as a case manager.

I worked as a case manager with kids who were sick or had disabilities and we provided in home care for those children,” said Stewart. “My background in early childhood education directly related to this job.”

Stewart continued her education receiving a Master’s Degree in Human Services from Liberty University.

“My classes at Mayland gave me the confidence I needed and helped me find what I really wanted to do,” said Stewart. “The Early Childhood degree does not limit you to working in child care centers or in the classroom, for me it opened all kinds of doors. Any degree in education opens up a lot of doors.”

Stewart currently works with the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Program that helps Mayland students with short-term scholarships for adult and dislocated workers.

“Again an education background is a part of my job,” said Stewart. “We do classroom components, help with Human Resource Development skills and education has always been my foundation and has carried through to whatever I have done. Mayland is a great place to work. It is where I got my start and will always be home.”

Mayland Community College’s priority registration for the Summer and Fall semesters is April 2-5. Visit www.mayland.edu for a course schedules and more information on the admission process.

Mayland Community College Human Services Technology student Evelyn Vondenhuevel shared research from a project she completed in the classroom at Mayland in an article written for a major Guatemalan newspaper elPeriodico.

The class Vondenhuevel wrote the research paper for was Human Service Issues at Mayland. In that class, each student picks a current Human Service issue they are interested in and writes a research paper on that topic. They also present their paper to the class.

“The purpose of the project is to help students learn how to conduct scholarly research, compile it into a paper, and present their findings,” said class instructor and program coordinator Misti Silver. “It also gives the student the opportunity to learn more in-depth information about a topic they are interested in that relates to the field of Human Services, and also teaches them how to use a database to conduct research.”

Vondenhuevel chose to research and write about issues involving gangs, and focused her information on Latino youth and their relationship with gangs.

“I found the information very fascinating,” said Vondenhuevel. “Gangs are a problem in many places. I am personally interested on seeing how people react in different situations. Sociology is something I really love learning about.”

Vondenhuevel commented about her research and project on a blog post written by her brother Mario Rosales, a journalist in Gutamalua. From that comment another journalist in Gutamala, Marta Sandoval, asked Vondenhuevel if she would share her knowledge in an article she was writing. Vondenhuevel agreed, and was part of an article titled “Crónicas del fin del mundo” by Sandoval. Sandoval talked with eight criminals who were in jail for killing and why they had chosen to kill. Vondenhuevel’s research allowed her to offer insight on some of the reasons why people kill, which was highlighted in the article.

“It was an awesome experience to be part of the article and share what I have learned,” said Vondenhuevel.

Vondenhuevel is working on her Associate’s degree in Human Services Technology. The Human Services Technology Program at Mayland prepares students for entry-level positions in institutions and agencies that provide social, community, and educational services. Along with core courses, students take courses that prepare them for specialization in specific human service areas.

Students take courses from a variety of disciplines. Emphasis in core courses is placed on development of relevant knowledge, skills, and attitudes in human services. Fieldwork experience provide opportunities to apply the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom.

Graduates should qualify for positions in mental health, childcare, family services, social services, rehabilitation, correction, and educational agencies. Graduates choosing to continue their education may select from a variety of transfer programs at senior public and private institutions.

The Spanish version of the article Vondenhuevel is quoted in can be found at http://www.elperiodico.com.gt/es/20120122/domingo/206835/.

“My success cannot be accredited to me only, first and foremost I must thank God Almighty for allowing me the great privilege to achieve the grades and accomplishments that He has so blessed me with. If it had not been for the loving support of my family, church, and the learning atmosphere of the classroom, the encouragement of my classmates, and the excellent effort of my instructors’ to help me reach my full potential, then none of this would be possible. Yes the hours are long some days being a part time employee, full time student, and a young preacher, but it does give a sense of accomplishment knowing that my hard work has paid off. I am currently praying about possibly achieving my bachelors degree in agriculture education from North Carolina A&T’s online program and at the same time achieving my bachelors degree in
theology online from a local Bible College. I know that my time at Mayland Community College is well spent because of the experiences in life and hands on learning tools that have come to help me achieve great goals and realize what I really want to do with my life.”
~~Austin Elkins

Austin is working on his Associate in Applied Science – Horticulture Technology degree and holds a 4.0 GPA.

Mark and Sherry Stout will celebrate their 11th wedding anniversary on March 31, 2012. They met when both were attending 10th grade at Faith Christian School in Spruce Pine.
“It was a good school,” Mark and Sherry agreed, “but we were drawn out of the classroom by the thoughts of getting a job and earning a steady paycheck.”

So, when they were sixteen, these two friends left school and started working at a local fast food restaurant. After a span of time, they both left this workplace and went their separate ways, not to see one another again until 15 years later.

Then, one Sunday, when Sherry was visiting her Aunt Ruby in the hospital, providence placed Mark at that same location and at the same time.

Their renewed friendship matured into a lovely courtship which soon resulted in their engagement; then Mark and Sherry’s lifetime commitment to one another was blessed in marriage. Today, they both agree they could never have been favored with a more wonderful, perfect life companion. Their love and respect for each other is clearly evident as they smile while easily sharing their story of bygone days as well as their hope and faith in their future together.

For twelve years, they enjoyed their mutual love of the great outdoors and camping (Mark has a passion for deer hunting and fishing), their loyalty to family ties, their faith in God, a commitment to caring for their beloved parents and precious “grand young’uns” Trevin (3) and Aden (1), a continuing interest in education, a heart for helping others, and service in their church at Greater Joy Fellowship in Newland.

Mark is gifted in woodworking, construction, and carpentry, and in his younger years he earned a comfortable living by investing these talents as an employee at Lexington and Ethan Allen Furniture Companies. But when these two valuable industries closed locally and relocated outside North Carolina, Mark said he knew it was time to make a major life change.

“Companies were not hiring anyone unless they had finished high school or earned their GED,” said Mark. “I knew I could do the job and do it well at many places I applied for work, but I did not have the diploma which was required to get a better job with benefits. I understood that it was time for me to enroll at Mayland Community College and earn my high school equivalency, the GED.”

Meanwhile, Sherry’s workplace of 14 years, Taylor Togs in Micaville, relocated to Mexico. So, for personal satisfaction and to prepare herself for future employment, Sherry, too, (along with hundreds of other local displaced workers who were losing their jobs due to Tri-County industry closings) enrolled in classes at Mayland Community College.

Both Mark and Sherry Stout successfully earned their GED diplomas and walked in ”cap and gown” ceremonies across the Sam Center Auditorium stage on Mayland’s Main Campus.
Sherry lacks only one final class at MCC and she will have earned her degree in Horticulture. One day she hopes to have her own business: Sweet Water Greenhouse.
“Sweet Water will be a perfect name,” Sherry said, as she reflects on her future greenhouse which had been envisioned by “Poppe,” her late, beloved father-in-law. For now, as Sherry awaits completion of that one final class, she is experiencing great personal satisfaction as a busy and happily devoted homemaker who loves having a delicious hot meal waiting for Mark when he arrives home in the evening following a day’s work of service at his dream job.

In 2011, Mark completed 168 hours of Detention Officer Training in the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) classes at Mayland and successfully passed the state certification examination which is required for all detention officers who serve at any sheriff’s office across the state of North Carolina. In addition, Mark earned certification in CPR and fire safety as well as in subject control, and he is now employed with the Sheriff’s Office of Avery County.
“The Mayland instructors who led these BLET classes were Steve Clawson, Mark McWilliams, and Bruce Pittman; they are top-quality law enforcement teachers and do an excellent job,” said Mark. “The classes are interesting and filled with good information and lots of hands-on training. Students learn a lot and are well-prepared for their service as detention officers.”

According to Steve Clawson, Mayland Community College BLET Instructor, Mark Stout was a great BLET student and all-around fine person.
“We enjoyed having Mark in class, and we are proud of his success; he will definitely be an asset as a Detention Officer with the Sheriff’s Office of Avery County,” said Clawson.

Mark and Sherry said they continue to thank God for opening the door to their wonderful learning experiences at Mayland Community College.
“We know first-hand,” they agreed, “that when one door closes, God opens another door.”

Their message to teenagers is: DO NOT DROP OUT OF SCHOOL!! It is not worth it! The grass is NOT greener on the other side (outside the classroom). Going to school is always easier when you are young; your hard work and study will pay off in big ways. It’s worth all the effort, so STAY IN SCHOOL!!”

“If you are over age 18, and you have already dropped out of school, for whatever reason, enroll in the free GED classes now at Mayland before all the upcoming GED changes occur,” said the Stouts. “The GED instructors are terrific to study with and they are very patient. They work with each student individually and help you prepare at your own speed to successfully earn your high school equivalency diploma. We did it; you can do it, too!”

“Prepare TODAY for your dream job of TOMORROW. You can be prepared for when the employment market strengthens and offers new and better job opportunities and a brighter future for you and your family,” said Mark.

Like Mark and Sherry Stout, any adult can complete the GED and enroll in interesting classes that are not only personally satisfying but also serve as a key step toward a happier, more rewarding, and successful career. Interested persons can call or drop by to learn more about FREE morning and evening GED classes at the Mayland Community College class nearest them: In Spruce Pine, 828-765-7351, extension 216 or 279. In Burnsville, 828-682-2154. In Newland, 828-733-5017. In Bakersville, 828-688-1986, or 1-800-462-9526.

She decided to return to college after recognizing that a lot of the jobs she was interested in required a two year degree or higher for employment. When she enrolled at Mayland she worked with the Career Counseling Center and found that a career in Human Services would be a good fit for her. Christina said that the support system at Mayland helped her succeed.

Balancing family and school was not always easy, but her children have been supportive and encouraging while she was earning her two-year degree and now as she enters into a Bachelor degree program at Gardner Webb University.

Christina said she knows she has been an inspiration to her children and they have seen her finish her degree and have seen how it helped get her current job, and knows they will follow in her example of continuing their education. Christina currently works at SafePlace and says her children also see that she is helping others.

Christina has started working on her Bachelor degree and intends to continue to the Master’s degree level to earn her counseling credentials. Topics being discussed in her classes now are areas that were covered while she was in Mayland classes.

It’s nice to know there is a foundation there to build on,” said Christina. “I want to get my Master’s degree so I can counsel. I’ve gotten my Associate’s degree and there is no stopping me now. If people are at that place in life where they are wanting to better their lives through education, Mayland is the perfect place to start.”

The 2011 Mayland Community College Staff Excellence award recipient is a familiar face at the college. The recipient, Rhia Crawford, has been working at Mayland since 1986.

“I am honored to receive this award,” said Crawford. “Mayland has a wonderful staff and they all want to do the best they can for their peers and students. It was humbling to hear my name announced when we have so many dedicated and deserving staff members.”

Crawford began her career in higher education at Mayland as a part time instructor in the Secretarial Program and then transitioned to a full time instructor in 1987.

“My passion is for teaching and seeing the students succeed in the classroom,” said Crawford. “That is one of the greatest pleasures of my job. Seeing the looks of accomplishment and hearing the support from the families of our graduates helps me to see that we are truly making a difference in the lives of our students. This is evident in all graduations, from Basic Skills graduations where students are awarded their GEDs to the Nursing and Medical Assisting pinning ceremonies to the BLET graduation to the curriculum graduation where degrees, diplomas, and certificates are awarded.”

Crawford has worked in several leadership roles at the colleges that include instructor, Department Head and Dean of the Business and Public Services Divisions at the college, Associate Vice President of Instruction, and currently as Vice President of Instruction.

In Crawford’s current position she is responsible for ensuring that Mayland’s programs meet state and accreditation requirements, while upholding a high standard of quality.

“Mayland has amazing students and the challenges they face makes me want to ensure that Mayland offers quality programs to prepare them for employment and/or further education,” said Crawford.

Crawford also works with the community in finding needs for new programs for Mayland to offer.

“Mayland is more than just a place to get an education,” said Crawford. “We are partners in economic development for the three counties and we create opportunities to help train people for our changing economy.”

(Special note: This is the second segment in a series reflecting on the amazing challenges, victories, and exciting and worthy life’s vision of Mary, a local, ambitious young Mayland Community College student living with retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic eye disease that gradually worsens until sight is gone, which is what happened to Mary last April, 2011. This portion of Mary’s true story spotlights her own personal, but brief, babyhood recollections, and is followed by her adoring adoptive mother Cheryl’s detailed account of Mary’s life beginning at age two.)

MARY SHARES…
Mary’s lovely, warm smile broadens; her sweet, spontaneous laughter dances through the air like the fragrance of summer magnolias as she speaks of her very earliest babyhood memories. Precious memories are the only memories Mary recalls despite her numerous health challenges from which she has chosen to harness experience and wisdom as the very power source from which she draws strength and faith, determination and focus for her life’s mission: to work with special needs children.

“I can barely remember when the social worker carried in my younger brother, Casey, to live with us. Casey was about 2 months old; I can still recall staring at the tiny tuft of red hair atop his sweet, soft, little baby head,” Mary smiles with apparent pleasure as she recounts her first months with adoptive parents, Cheryl and Pat, twenty years ago. “Casey’s little tuft of red hair is still so vivid in my memory,” Mary lovingly repeats several times with a twinkle in her beautiful, dark eyes.

“Too, I remember one of my favorite Easter dresses; it was pale blue, trimmed with pretty pink eggs and tiny yellow chicks. We called them ‘peeps’. All us kids made a big mess dyeing Easter eggs on Saturday. We had such fun! We’d all get dressed up in our Easter clothes and go to church together on Easter Sunday. After we’d get home and finish lunch, Mom and Dad would tell us kids to stay in the bedroom where we couldn’t see them hiding the Easter eggs outside. When they would call for us to come on out and begin the Easter egg hunt, we would all go bursting out the doors with our Easter baskets,” Mary excitedly recalls with laughter!

“We always had lots of foster children in our home. Casey and I got used to sharing our rooms with the other boys and girls. I can remember all the fun we’d have washing dishes together after meals were finished. Four of us kids would line up four chairs in front of the kitchen sink and cabinets. Standing on those chairs, one of us would wash the dishes, one would rinse, one would dry, and one would stack the dishes in the cabinet. We would laugh and have such fun together. Each child in our family was responsible for taking care of a ‘set of chores.’ We all had a good time working together,” smiles Mary.

CHERYL SHARES…

After several years of trying unsuccessfully to have a baby, my husband Pat and I decided to become foster parents. Within a couple of weeks after becoming licensed, we got a call from Yancey DSS asking if we could take in a 2-year-old girl. Of course we said yes! And that was the beginning of our life with Mary.

Mary was a very cute toddler, with light blond hair, chubby cheeks, and pretty, brown, almond-shaped eyes. She was smart, speaking in full sentences, and she had a whole lot of personality! The first couple of weeks, Mary cried a lot. Then she adjusted to her new circumstances and became a very joyful, active little girl. I called Mary my “happy, hoppy girl” because she would hop up and down when happy and excited, which was a lot. She became very attached to me from the very first day, and wanted to follow me everywhere.

A couple of weeks after she came to live with us, Mary became very sick. She ended up in the hospital with pneumonia and dehydration. Pat and I took turns staying with her so she was never alone. This ordeal probably cemented our bond even more.

After living with us for less than 4 months, Mary was returned to her biological mother. This only lasted for a couple of weeks; then she was put back into foster care. Mary was placed with another family this time because my employer decided fostering Mary was a conflict of interest with my job. At the time, I was a case manager for mental health, working with children at risk of being removed from their homes. I was heartbroken, and after a week of much thought and prayer, I resigned from my job. Soon after, Mary came back to us, and we quickly started getting more foster children. A few months later, Mary’s 8-week-old biological brother, Casey, was placed with us, and I decided to remain home full-time to take care of the children.

When Mary was three, her biological mother allowed us to adopt Mary and Casey. This was a difficult decision that she made out of love. She wanted them to have a good home and knew that she could not provide that for them at the time. Needless to say, Pat and I were thrilled and very grateful.

As a young child, Mary suffered from nightmares, waking several times a night screaming for me. She did not sleep through the night until she was 5 years old. She had anxieties and was extremely shy as she became older. Mary hardly talked at all in school, even though she talked constantly at home. She was quite a chatterbox with us, very bright and curious. When she was in the third grade, we had her tested, and she was diagnosed with a learning disability. She learned to read easily, and always loved to read, but math and spatial things were difficult for her.

Although she was shy at school, Mary was like a different child at home. She loved her many foster siblings and got along very well with them. We did not have video games or TV (other than watching videos) during most of her growing up years. We usually had several children at a time, and they all had fun playing outside, enjoying games together, and reading books. As she grew older, Mary was very good with the babies and younger children. We had over 100 foster children during a 14-year period. In addition to adopting Mary and her younger brother, Casey, we also adopted another little boy, Justin, who has special needs and has always adored Mary.

Mary did not have vision problems when she was very young. Due to far-sightedness, Mary started wearing glasses when she was four. She wore an eye patch for a few months, but even this effort did not straighten Mary’s eyes, so at age five she had them straightened in out-patient surgery. When she woke up after the operation, she was angry! She refused to drink or eat anything, not even a Popsicle. The hospital staff finally gave up and let Mary go home in her hospital gown because she wouldn’t even allow me to change her clothes. Like most 5 year olds, Mary could be very stubborn!

For years, Mary just needed glasses and she was fine. We noticed she had poor night vision as she became older, but didn’t really think much about it; it just slowly became worse. When Mary was about 13, she would sometimes step on a dog or a crawling baby or bump into things. I would tell her to watch where she was going, and sometimes she would become irritated or upset. We were home-schooling at this time, so Mary wasn’t usually away from home or in unfamiliar places. Then she started holding onto my arm when we went to the store, and I noticed she was feeling for the curbs. I finally started becoming concerned and took her for an overdue eye checkup. Something showed up, and Dr. Walker referred us to a specialist. The specialist told us Mary had both macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. The RP was causing her to have tunnel vision and to lack night vision. It would gradually get worse. The MD causes central vision to deteriorate. And Mary had both; she was slowly going blind. We were shocked and saddened. I felt so bad about all the times I had told her to watch where she was going. Mary had been experiencing this all alone, not telling anyone what she was going through. I may never understand why she didn’t share with me what was happening.

We took Mary to Duke for more exams and found out that she was already legally blind. She had only 15% visual field and could not see in the dark. She could still see well in good lighting if she was looking directly at something. Mary handled this news surprisingly well after the initial shock. I think it was a big relief for her to finally understand what was going on and to know that her family knew about it and would always be there for her. We all had some major adjustments to make.

Upon the recommendation of a close friend, Mary attended Crossnore Academy as a day student for her freshman year in high school. She was going to go to The Governor Morehead School her sophomore year, but paperwork was not completed in time and she did not want to start late. So Mary attended Mitchell High School that year. It was decided by all that the self-contained classroom would be better for Mary due to her vision problems, learning disability, anxieties, and shyness, which were pretty severe for her at that point.

As planned, Mary went to Governor Morehead School in Raleigh for her junior and senior years. She stayed there during the week and came home on weekends. I worried how she would do in Raleigh, but after the first couple of difficult weeks, Mary did great. It was evident this learning situation was ideal for her. She had built-in friends who shared her vision problems; finally, Mary wasn’t so isolated. The staff there was great with the students and helped them work on their confidence and self-esteem as well as their independence. Mary loved it there and gradually came out of her shell.

When she turned 18, Mary wanted to live in her own place, so she moved into a little house down the road from us. Around this time, she started having more problems with her moods, sometimes being very irritable, sometimes depressed, sometimes hyper and giddy. Mary was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and over the years she has come to realize the necessity of correctly taking her meds in order to be able to keep up with her busy independent schedule. These are yet more challenges which have all worked together to help strengthen Mary in becoming a more responsible and mature adult. Getting a seeing-eye guide dog, moving to another town, and attending Mayland Community College have also been big steps which have supported Mary on her road to independence.

Last April, Mary’s remaining vision suddenly left her, literally overnight. She adjusted in only a couple of days. Then it came back just as suddenly. Her vision has come and gone several times like that, always unexpectedly. It seems to be pretty much gone now. It amazes me how well Mary handles this; she takes it in stride and adjusts quickly. Mary has goals and dreams and sincerely desires to find a job. She is not content to just sit at home in front of a TV. Mary wants to do something meaningful with her life. Even though she lives on a very limited budget, she has financially “adopted” a child from Africa and has contributed to St. Jude. Mary is a special person, and I hope she starts getting some breaks in her life. She deserves them.

Years ago, when Mary was being diagnosed with yet another problem, her younger brother Casey asked me, “Why is it always Mary Lynn?” I told him I didn’t know; she surely seems to have more than her fair share of major challenges. I now realize that, regardless of her hardships, Mary accepts all the difficulties thrown at her and strives to live her life to the fullest. Like everyone, she does have her down times, but I am extremely proud of Mary, how resilient she is, and how far she has come.

Mary Lynn, our daughter, you are now grown, mature, independent, and responsible. May God go with you throughout your life. We love you.

(Please watch for the future third segment in this series, “Meeting Mary,” when Mary will share memories of growing up and interesting facts about the most recent years of her adult life, including her success at Mayland Community College. Also included will be heartfelt reflections from Mary’s adoptive father, Pat.)

For more information about Foster Care, Adoption, or Services for the Blind, please phone Mitchell County Department of Social Services, 828 688-2175, and mention this article.