A Dream Fulfilled

Patrick Pope looks like a typical college student. But there was a time when even finishing high school was not a sure thing. His family had gone through some hard times and Patrick needed help. He found it in Communities In Schools.

In some ways, 18-year-old Patrick Pope resembles an ordinary college student.  A freshman at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, he takes a full load of courses, has a part-time job, and – in his limited spare time – plays basketball, works out, watches television, surfs the Internet and tries to catch up on sleep.

But dig a little deeper and you’ll see that Patrick is no ordinary young man.  Despite having experienced significant losses, he has, from a young age, been determined to make something of his life and to help those around him.  He has an inner drive to succeed that was nurtured by his parents, and helped along during a difficult time by Communities In Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

There was a period when Patrick needed an extra push to stay involved in school.  While he was in the 7th grade, Patrick came home and learned his mother had been found dead in what would later be ruled a homicide.  About a year later, Patrick’s father became unable to work full-time due to rheumatoid arthritis.

In high school, Patrick was a good student, even making the honor roll.  But without the constant presence of his mom, Patrick needed a little extra motivation to keep going. Through a cousin Patrick learned about Communities In Schools, and he decided to check it out.

"Patrick was a good student who just needed an extra push," said Andre Reynolds, Communities In Schools site coordinator at West Mecklenburg High. "He started receiving services in his freshman year through the Communities In Schools after-school program, College & Career Academy." Patrick would visit Reynolds in his office, stopping by to catch up or just for a laugh.

Throughout his high school years, Patrick participated in the ThinkCOLLEGE program, which provides exposure to college and career opportunities, sponsored by Communities In Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg. In the summer of his junior year, Patrick secured an internship at a local recreation center working with children with disabilities. The internship led to networking and other opportunities&emdash;eventually a part-time job with Radio Disney. The money Patrick earned from his job helped support his dad and younger brother, Spencer.

During his junior year, Patrick continued to go on college campus tours, and learned about the college application process, scholarships and financial aid.  In his senior year, Patrick participated on the Communities In Schools leadership team and served as vice president.  The leadership team met two to three times a month to talk about the importance of school, self-motivation, setting a good example and helping others.

Unfortunately, during his senior year in high school, Patrick was dealt another blow when his stepmother died of a brain aneurysm.  Thanks to the supportive network that Communities In Schools had already helped to build around him, he was able to remain focused and graduate high school on time, despite his responsibilities of helping to care for his younger brother and his dad and maintaining a part-time job.

The payoff for his hard work and perseverance has been huge.  In his senior year of high school, Patrick was inducted into the National Honor Society and learned that he was accepted to UNC-Charlotte.  He started in the fall of 2007. The best news is that the combination of scholarships and financial aid he received will cover the four years of college tuition.

Patrick’s mom Linda, a North Carolina State graduate, remains the greatest influence in his life.  It was her dream for Patrick to attend college someday, no matter the cost.  Patrick’s dad, Patrick Pope, Sr., has supported his son’s education beginning as early as the second and third grades, when he paid for Patrick to have private tutors.

These days, Patrick juggles his time between school, his part-time job at Radio Disney, family and friends.  Although he hasn’t declared a major yet, he is interested in business, marketing and computer information systems.  He’s excited about taking more computer classes during the spring semester.

Patrick lives on campus but sees his dad and Spencer a couple of times a week. "My family is doing well.  I go over and spend time with them whenever I can," he said.  His younger brother really looks up to him as a role model. "Spencer is great," Patrick said. "I know I’m setting an example for him and that’s a good feeling."