Preparing for Milestones and Making Memories at the YW
When George joined our childcare program–the same one that his mom, Tatiana attended herself–he was 4 years old and had a natural love for learning. However, his family was in the midst of a difficult divorce, which started impacting his behavior in preschool. These behaviors could’ve warranted dismissal from the program but instead, the Director at the time, Ms. Patti, showed George and his family patience, love, understanding, and support. She demonstrated healthy communication skills, consistently provided George with opportunities to learn at an advanced pace, and taught him how to be a good friend to his peers. He started Kindergarten believing he was kind, smart, and capable.
Reflecting on his time at the YW, George shares: “Empowered by the start Ms. Patti and the YW gave me, I
continued believing and exceling—and I haven’t stopped. At 15, I began my college career; this spring, I graduated from Mercer County Community College with a 4.0 GPA and an Associate’s degree in Physics. Come fall, I will matriculate into Penn State University as a junior, and I plan to pursue both a Master’s and PhD. in Astrophysics down the line.”
