Education Opens Door to New Career
Talking to Ureka Smith, there is a sense of serenity that wasn’t always there. It may be that in her 33 years she has had to make hard choices in life and she knows she can make it through. It may also be the fact that she knows her worth and refuses to settle for less.
“I left Ann Arbor when I was younger because I knew that my life was not headed in the right direction. I moved to Cleveland to live with my sister. I got a good job in a manufacturing facility, was promoted and was doing well there; until I got laid off. That was the first time that I felt disposable,” remembers Smith.
She packed up her daughter and moved back to Ann Arbor where she had a support system and contemplated what she wanted out of life, letting her strong faith in herself guide her.
Finding Her Calling
“I realized that I was happiest when I was working with children. I enrolled at Washtenaw Community College and will earn two associate degrees in Elementary Education and Liberal Arts Transfer. I have been accepted at Eastern Michigan University and have a part-time job at Pittsfield Elementary School. I’m looking forward to being an elementary teacher.”
It’s an accomplishment her family couldn’t be more proud of.
“I am the first in my family to go to college,” says Smith. “My daughter’s confidence has skyrocketed as she has seen me succeed.”
Scholarship Winner
A testament to her strong drive for success, Smith is the recipient of multiple scholarships award by the WCC Foundation. Scholarships that have helped her pay for her textbooks and other college expenses.
The WCC Foundation awards over 500 need-based scholarships to students each year. Scholarships are awarded three times each year, for Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer semesters.