Page 96 - May-June-July Life In Naples Magazine

ELDA HERNANDEZ AND JHULFRANCE JOSEPH TIF not only paid for Joseph to attend
MSU, but Hernandez also helped prepare
TIF student sees bright future her for a new environment and different
despite obstacles weather. “I was so thankful TIF gave me the
opportunity to experience something out
by Steven Kissinger of my comfort zone. I was there less than
a month, and once I received my GED, I
J hulfrance Joseph, a 21-year-old freshman at Florida SouthWestern State College, started to see a new future for myself. It gave
says she was aware that her college experience would require a lot of dedication and me hope.”
determination: After all, there was a time when she couldn’t see herself making it
here at all. Now, in her first year of college, she
remembers the excitement and eagerness
When she graduated from Immokalee High School in 2013, she was unable to pass of wanting to have a better education and
the ACT and FCAT, so she didn’t receive a standard high school diploma. Joseph was success. But, she recognizes it is certainly
devastated and lost any hope of going to college. With no money and no job, things for different, and more difficult, than high
Joseph seemed bleak. school. For instance, college requires more
preparation for the material that is given
She first reached out to Barbara Van Essen with the Girl Scouts of Southwest Florida. by the professors. “An academic challenge I
Van Essen helped her deal with everything she was going through, even assisting her in faced is time management,” Joseph explained.
enrolling at the Immokalee Technical Center, known as iTech, so she could begin taking “It was difficult to accomplish two to four
classes to earn her GED. hours of reading and preparation for the
entire course. When I did not have a job, the
While she enjoyed iTech, Joseph admits she was impatient. She was anxious to receive extra time was extremely beneficial because
her GED so she could move forward with her life. As a junior in high school, she had I would have all my assignments completed.
become involved with The Immokalee Foundation, first as a tutor in the Immokalee However, now that I have a job, managing
Readers program and then by joining the Career Development program her senior year. my time wisely is my first priority. I work to
overcome my academic challenges by working
Through the CDP, students enhance the professional skills necessary to become on making them into strong attributes.”
confident, productive and successful citizens. CDP guides them through the process of
career goal-setting and attainment, bringing together outstanding career development As for her future, it is definitely bright.
services, best practices, educational career panels, job shadowing and internships. The Joseph has known since high school – when
program also provides tuition and scholarships, arranges job shadowing/internship and TIF provided her with the opportunity to
apprenticeship positions, evaluates students’ career interest inventories, and provides shadow nurses and doctors – that she wanted
opportunities to attend career fairs. to be an obstetrician/gynecologist. She is
grateful for TIF’s part in helping her on the
Joseph approached Elda Hernandez, TIF’s Career Development program manager. “I path toward achieving her goals.
told her I wanted to get my GED faster,” said Joseph. “She searched and found a program
at Michigan State University that helps students like me.” “Everyone at TIF is friendly and they care
about you,” Joseph said. “They want you to
succeed. They’ve taught me to be stronger for
myself and my education.”

The Immokalee Foundation provides
a range of education programs that focus
on building pathways to success through
college and post-secondary preparation
and support, mentoring and tutoring,
opportunities for broadening experiences and
life skills development leading to economic
independence. To learn more about TIF,
volunteering as a mentor or for additional
information, call 239.430.9122 or visit www.
immokaleefoundation.org.

Steven Kissinger, executive director of The
Immokalee Foundation, can be reached at steven.
kissinger@immokaleefoundation.com.

96 Life in Naples | May • June • July 2015