Dwight Murphy
When Charles “Mickey” Flint was laid off from Armstrong Wood Products in April, 2010, he decided to enroll at Tennessee Technology Center in Oneida/Huntsville to pursue a new career in Practical Nursing. Determined to expedite his education and return to the labor market, he decided to enroll in May, 2010.
After 12 years of factory work, becoming a student required major adjustments. He had to learn how to study and how to manage his time to balance his studies with his family responsibilities. Mickey soon became discouraged because of the demands of the accelerated curriculum, and developed a blood pressure problem. Encouraged by staff members, he did well the first trimester, but his grades fell below the 81% requirement during the second trimester and he failed the program. Because of his determination to have a better life for himself and his family, he persevered. He enrolled in the Business Systems Technology program for the remainder of the term to maintain his financial aid, and he enrolled in the Jamestown Practical Nursing program in January, 2011 to repeat his second trimester.
Mickey faced financial as well as academic challenges. In addition to the increased travel expense of driving to Jamestown, a miscommunication with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development cost him $1000 in financial assistance. He had to make budget cuts, including allowing his house insurance to lapse. This proved disastrous. In March, 2011 Mickey, his wife Felicia, and their three children – Jacob (15), Andrew (13), and Macaiah (10) – lost their home to a fire. Mickey summarized his plight, “you go to bed with everything you need and wake up without even a toothbrush.”
The news of the family’s loss generated interest in the community to assist in replacing the personal necessities. One of the major losses to Mickey was his computer, needed to continue his Nurse’s training. TTC Financial Assistant, Nancy Boles, contacted MSP Executive Director Ella Smith and informed her of Mickey’s needs. Ella responded immediately, meeting him at the local Wal-Mart, where she purchased a computer for him to use at school. Because of her spontaneous response, Mickey did not miss any classroom assignments. Mickey’s character and determination have shined through his many obstacles and he is on target to graduate in August, 2011.
The purpose of Morgan-Scott Project’s New Light Program is to assist individuals who seek to better themselves via education and training so that they are better qualified for employment. The average cost to MSP has been about $600 per graduate. The story of Mickey Flint illustrates one of the many ways that this program improves lives by helping people to help themselves.
Article by Dwight Murphy
