Getting Ready to Fly

Despite some bumps in the road, Robert Guy is on his way to meeting his goal of becoming a lawyer. Attending a Communities In Schools’ Performance Learning Center in Athens, Georgia gave him the tools he needed for the journey.

Eighteen-year-old Robert Guy is the first member of his family to graduate from high school.  The oldest of eight children, Robert and his family faced economic and personal struggles.  Robert grew up in Georgia, where his family moved often.  His parents later divorced.

Through it all, and with the help of the Classic City Performance Learning Center® (PLC) in Athens, a Communities In Schools of Georgia nontraditional high school, Robert steadfastly moved toward his goal of graduating from high school and fulfilling his dream of practicing law.

He continues his journey today as a freshman at Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he is studying political science.  He has received scholarships to attend Morehouse, one of the most prestigious historically black colleges in the nation, and with a grade point average of 3.5, will continue to be eligible for academic scholarships.

Though he is from a large family, Robert appreciated the value of a small family when it came to his education.  Robert and his siblings were homeschooled for a number of years, in part because the family moved so often.  But there came a time for Robert to move into the public school system.  The first public school he attended was brand new, with a low student-to-teacher ratio, and he was active and successful there.  When the family moved again, this time to Athens, Robert, then 16, was faced with attending a much larger, traditional high school.

This challenge, added to the personal struggles his family was going through at the time, led Robert to the Classic City PLC in Athens.  “I’ve always known that my education comes first,” Robert said.  “After visiting the local high school and doing some research, my mom and I went to check out the school.  We met with Dan Hunter [principal], who talked to us and showed us around the school.”

Robert was sold, and applied for admission to the school, which offered the advantage of being a small, self-contained learning environment with a low student-to-teacher ratio, high academic standards, personalized programs and a flexible schedule.  With his positive outlook, strong academic track record and ambitious goal of graduating ahead of time, Robert was a natural choice for the Classic City PLC.

Once there, Robert “fell in love” with the school.  “It was like a family, and became like home,” he said of his two years there.  “At the PLC, they get to know you as a person.  They cared about what was going on in my life, and how it impacted my education and ability to focus on learning.”

His first year there, Robert had a lead role in creating the school’s student council, and not surprisingly, served as president.  He was also very involved in major fundraising activities for the school’s relief effort following the 2005 hurricane season.  “Robert also excelled in the creative arts,” noted Jaya Chauhan, his learning facilitator and advisor at the PLC.  “He was very interested in writing, producing and acting.  He produced a musical rap presentation in collaboration with two other students during the 2005 Thanksgiving holiday season, which aired on a local radio station.”

In a personal essay about his experience at the PLC, Robert wrote, “I have teachers who genuinely care about me and who would do anything to make sure I succeed...I am at a place where people care about my dreams, goals and future.  Without Communities In Schools and Classic City PLC, I doubt I would have made it.”

Last year Robert did make it – achieving his goal of graduating from high school. After completing his undergraduate studies at Morehouse College, Robert plans to attend law school and become an entertainment attorney.  He appears to be well on his way.  As Chauhan said, “I feel certain that Robert is going to do really well in life.  He has embarked on his journey and is going to just fly.”

January 2007