Elizabeth McKnight: College Bound

For many low-income students across the United States, college seems out of reach. According to a report by the Education Trust in 2009, 55 percent of low-income high school students enrolled in college, compared to 84 percent of their wealthier peers.

This is largely attributed to financial barriers. However, there are numerous other cultural issues that present challenges for young people of low-income families. For example, many students face a lack of knowledge about secondary education or a lack of parental support.  

Like many other students, when Elizabeth McKnight was a freshman in high school, she was unsure what her future held, but she knew that college was not a part of it.

Four years later, with the guidance of Bridges to a Brighter Future, Elizabeth knows exactly where she is going and how she is getting there. Elizabeth will graduate from Hillcrest High School in June 2012 and she is then headed to Winthrop University where she plans to major in Mass Communication and English Literature

Elizabeth McKnight (left) and Nadia Glover, seniors in the Bridges program, celebrate at Bridges' end of the summer banquet. Credit: Bridges to a Brighter Future

Bridges to a Brighter Future works to “break the cycle of poverty and low-educational attainment by equipping students, whose potential outdistances their circumstances, with the tools and support needed to graduate from high school and enroll in post-secondary education.”
 For seniors in particular, Bridges walks students through every step of the college application process, from standardized test preparation, to touring universities, to applying for scholarships and financial aid. A college application can be daunting, but Bridges makes sure that every student has the skills and the resources to apply.

 Not only has the program helped Elizabeth in the college application process, but it has helped her develop into a more well-rounded person overall. When she looks back to her freshman year, she hardly recognizes the person she once was.

"I didn’t realize how much I was lacking self-confidence and leadership. I am such a different person than who I was then. I’m not afraid to speak in front of people or lead a group. Life has become a lot better because I have learned to take hold of opportunities.”

According to Elizabeth, she had to grow up quickly in order to deal with the challenges of her father’s bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. However, Bridges has shown her that “you can’t let other people’s disabilities get in your way.”

I have no doubt that Elizabeth will go on to do great things at Winthrop University next year! Check out this Flickr slideshow with pictures of Elizabeth and friends during her senior year in Bridges. All photos were provided by Bridges to a Better Future.