Student Story: Lisa Menard
To help celebrate National Mentoring Month, current student Lisa Menard shared the story of her Ivy Bridge journey and some of the people that have helped her continue her education. Read her story below, then make sure to thank the mentors in your life this month!
Lisa's Story:
Hello, my name is Lisa Menard and I am a single mother of four. I am 46 years old. I have been working in the medical field since 1989 but I was so burnt out that I had to step out for a while. I went into retail, but the money was not that great so then I started reapplying for medical jobs, but the hospitals had a freeze and the private doctor’s offices didn’t have any openings. That’s when I decided to change my major to criminal justice. I saw an article online about Ivy Bridge College of Tiffin University, so I called the number and applied to start school here. I started my classes in March of this year. It was easier for me to go to school online, because it allowed me to fit class time around my kids, grandkids, and job. My friends and family have always been there to support me with my decisions.
My enrollment coach Ivy was very nice and helpful. She was very pleasant, did my orientation with me, and helped me fill out all of the forms I needed. I didn’t have much knowledge of computers then and was having problems keeping up with her, but she was very patient with me.
On my first day of school I started having problems with my computer, but I emailed my instructors and my success coach and they were very understanding and tried to assist me as much as possible. I prayed really hard that I would be able to afford a new computer. I would go to the library to do my schoolwork or use a friend’s computer. My daughter Jessika would also let me use her computer while she was at work. I didn’t want to lose sight of my dreams and goals. Two days later my friend Esther came by my house with a new laptop. She told me I could repay her when I received my school check. Thank the Lord for friends and family! I was able to repay Esther with my school check. After I had my new computer, I started catching up in my classes.
I have really learned a lot in the short time that I have been a student at Ivy Bridge College. The teachers are awesome and the tutors are very helpful. My account representative Tasha Bowie is also very pleasant—she takes care of all of my accounts and notifies me when I need to reapply for my student loans or if there are any outstanding balances. Ivy Bridge College does everything for me, all I have to do is study and pass my classes. It is awesome.
I was living in Florida when I started school. When my mother took ill in June of this year, I moved to Michigan to take care of her. I was having a hard time, my grades were dropping, and I was put on academic probation. I was mentally distraught. I felt like I was falling apart. I have to thank my success coach Anita Starks because she kept me on track. She was my rock in my time of need. I was very emotional and having a hard time retaining anything I studied or read. My success coach Anita was always there to give me a shove forward. My mother died on July 15, 2011. I was devastated. I knew my mother was so proud of me when I started going back to school, and I knew she would want me to continue my education no matter what. It took me three months to get my head on straight, but I had the help of Anita my success coach and my family.
I decided to stay in Michigan to spend time with my daughter Kelli. By October I managed to bring my grades back up from almost failing, to A’s and B’s. I am now working at TJMAXX in Westland. I make just enough money to get by, but that's fine because school is more important to me right now and a part time job gives me more study time.
My goal is to be the best that I can be in my field. I make sure to work four hours a day on my schoolwork and it is really paying off. Whenever I have a problem there is always someone at Ivy Bridge College who is willing to help me. I can talk to or email my instructors, success coach, or tutors and they always answer back. If I am having technical difficulties, there is a technical team that will help me fix the problem. They let me know if the problem is my computer or a glitch in their system. If it happens to be my computer they will give me advice on how to fix it, or let me know what programs I need to get that are compatible with my classes.
The things that I like best about my classes are the written discussion questions and essay assignments—these have both really taught me a lot. I have learned more through reading other students’ responses to discussions, and from my instructor’s questions and feedback. I also enjoy my study lab. If I am doing poorly in one area, I can practice in a study lab to develop a better understanding of that topic or area. Everything is at my fingertips, which makes school online so much easier.
When I earn my associate degree, I plan on doing my internship at the Westland Police Department or the Westland Courthouse. While I'm doing my internship I still want to further my education at Ivy Bridge College of Tiffin University and would like to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. I feel like the more I learn, the more I can perfect my skills in the criminal justice field. I would like to eventually work with crime scenes or in a forensic lab because they are both very interesting to me. I am eager to utilize my skills, and to gain more knowledge in this field.
I want to thank everyone at Ivy Bridge College for all of their guidance and help through my trials and tribulations, because you have all helped change me as a person. I have learned to have courage to strive harder for my life-long goals.
It sure is a long hard road to travel, but it will really be worth it when I reach the top.
Lisa's Story:
Hello, my name is Lisa Menard and I am a single mother of four. I am 46 years old. I have been working in the medical field since 1989 but I was so burnt out that I had to step out for a while. I went into retail, but the money was not that great so then I started reapplying for medical jobs, but the hospitals had a freeze and the private doctor’s offices didn’t have any openings. That’s when I decided to change my major to criminal justice. I saw an article online about Ivy Bridge College of Tiffin University, so I called the number and applied to start school here. I started my classes in March of this year. It was easier for me to go to school online, because it allowed me to fit class time around my kids, grandkids, and job. My friends and family have always been there to support me with my decisions.
My enrollment coach Ivy was very nice and helpful. She was very pleasant, did my orientation with me, and helped me fill out all of the forms I needed. I didn’t have much knowledge of computers then and was having problems keeping up with her, but she was very patient with me.
On my first day of school I started having problems with my computer, but I emailed my instructors and my success coach and they were very understanding and tried to assist me as much as possible. I prayed really hard that I would be able to afford a new computer. I would go to the library to do my schoolwork or use a friend’s computer. My daughter Jessika would also let me use her computer while she was at work. I didn’t want to lose sight of my dreams and goals. Two days later my friend Esther came by my house with a new laptop. She told me I could repay her when I received my school check. Thank the Lord for friends and family! I was able to repay Esther with my school check. After I had my new computer, I started catching up in my classes.
I have really learned a lot in the short time that I have been a student at Ivy Bridge College. The teachers are awesome and the tutors are very helpful. My account representative Tasha Bowie is also very pleasant—she takes care of all of my accounts and notifies me when I need to reapply for my student loans or if there are any outstanding balances. Ivy Bridge College does everything for me, all I have to do is study and pass my classes. It is awesome.
I was living in Florida when I started school. When my mother took ill in June of this year, I moved to Michigan to take care of her. I was having a hard time, my grades were dropping, and I was put on academic probation. I was mentally distraught. I felt like I was falling apart. I have to thank my success coach Anita Starks because she kept me on track. She was my rock in my time of need. I was very emotional and having a hard time retaining anything I studied or read. My success coach Anita was always there to give me a shove forward. My mother died on July 15, 2011. I was devastated. I knew my mother was so proud of me when I started going back to school, and I knew she would want me to continue my education no matter what. It took me three months to get my head on straight, but I had the help of Anita my success coach and my family.
I decided to stay in Michigan to spend time with my daughter Kelli. By October I managed to bring my grades back up from almost failing, to A’s and B’s. I am now working at TJMAXX in Westland. I make just enough money to get by, but that's fine because school is more important to me right now and a part time job gives me more study time.
My goal is to be the best that I can be in my field. I make sure to work four hours a day on my schoolwork and it is really paying off. Whenever I have a problem there is always someone at Ivy Bridge College who is willing to help me. I can talk to or email my instructors, success coach, or tutors and they always answer back. If I am having technical difficulties, there is a technical team that will help me fix the problem. They let me know if the problem is my computer or a glitch in their system. If it happens to be my computer they will give me advice on how to fix it, or let me know what programs I need to get that are compatible with my classes.
The things that I like best about my classes are the written discussion questions and essay assignments—these have both really taught me a lot. I have learned more through reading other students’ responses to discussions, and from my instructor’s questions and feedback. I also enjoy my study lab. If I am doing poorly in one area, I can practice in a study lab to develop a better understanding of that topic or area. Everything is at my fingertips, which makes school online so much easier.
When I earn my associate degree, I plan on doing my internship at the Westland Police Department or the Westland Courthouse. While I'm doing my internship I still want to further my education at Ivy Bridge College of Tiffin University and would like to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. I feel like the more I learn, the more I can perfect my skills in the criminal justice field. I would like to eventually work with crime scenes or in a forensic lab because they are both very interesting to me. I am eager to utilize my skills, and to gain more knowledge in this field.
I want to thank everyone at Ivy Bridge College for all of their guidance and help through my trials and tribulations, because you have all helped change me as a person. I have learned to have courage to strive harder for my life-long goals.
It sure is a long hard road to travel, but it will really be worth it when I reach the top.
Lisa is a current student in Ivy Bridge College's Criminal Justice degree program.
