Michigan Association of Community and Adult Ed Students Speak

Michigan Association of Community and Adult Ed Hosts “Students Speak”

They say that public speaking is just about the scariest thing a person can do. Well, public speaking had nothing on the brave non-traditional adult students that graced the stage at Athens High School for the first regional Michigan Association of Community and Adult Education “Students Speak” event.

The 13 individuals shared their stories of challenges. Some were cultural, some were family, some were tales of turning bad luck or misfortune around. Three of the speakers represented Troy Continuing Education:

Elena Khoresheva immigrated from Russia three years ago and leveraged the Troy Adult Education and Career (TRAC) program for help learning the language and culture while in pursuit of a job in Quality Control. “Troy Adult Ed helped me with pronunciation, reading, grammar and conversational skills,” she said. “TRAC also helped me to build a resume, prepare for an interview and ultimately find a good job.”

Heekyung Kimm came here in 2016 from South Korea with her husband and sons. She told the story of her first job working in a chicken factory in Montgomery, Alabama. She knew then that she wanted to better her employment prospects and that the key was becoming proficient in the English language. “People say that opportunity is easy and everywhere, but I didn’t know where to start.” Kimm found Troy Continuing Education and worked hard in their ESL curriculum, ultimately seeking a good job and being an inspiration to her young sons.

Bhavisha Modi moved here in 2006 for her husband’s career and became a mother. “I was a civil engineer back in India and gave up my career to move to the US with my husband.” As her children grew (and spoke fluently) “my need for better English began haunting me,” she said. She found TRAC’s online programs and worked hard to gain the skills she needed to attain a CAD-based certification program. ”I am working very hard to feel more confident in my abilities.” And she just started her new job as a CAD designer for Auburn Hills inventory corporation RGIS.

These amazing students just go to show what happens when hard work and drive meet with the right resources and opportunity. For more information about the Michigan Association of Community and Adult Education, visit https://macae.org/.

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Photo Courtesy of Troy Schools:

3479: All of the student speakers from Oakland/Macomb Counties with the Listening Panel (If you want all of their names let me know and I can reach out to MACAE to get them.)

3482: Left to right – Heekyung Kimm, Katie Thompson (TRAC Coord/ESL Teacher), Bhavisha Modi, Elena Khorysheva

3483: Lisa Decaminada (Job Counselor, Oakland County Michigan Works! Troy), Trenia Patrick (Troy CE Career Navigator/Adult Ed Teacher), Heekyung Kimm, Padma Kuppa (Michigan State House of Representative, District 41), Katie Thompson (TRAC Coord/Troy CE ESL Teacher), Bhavisha Modi, Elena Khorysheva, Lynda Keough (Program Coordinator/Immigrant Refugee Navigator Troy MIWorks), Jennifer Llewellyn (Manager Oakland County Workforce Development Division), Jillian Geyman (Assistant Manager Oakland County Michigan Works! Troy), James Jackson (Regional Director for US Senator Gary Peters)

Students with Padma: Elena Khorysheva, Heekyung Kimm, Padma Kuppa (Michigan State House of Representative, District 41), Bhavisha Modi