SUCCESS STORIES — Dominique, age 17

Dominque is now 17, but she was sent to YTEC (Youth Treatment & Education Court) at age 14. At that time, she had not attended school regularly for years and could neither read nor write.

Dominque started first grade at the age of seven, but because she had never been to school before, she quickly started falling behind. According to her vocational counselor at YTEC, "The continuous promotions from grade to grade only furthered the problem, until it erupted into low self-image, fear, and embarrassment, and then she became invisible, and began "ditching" class after class. Eventually becoming truant, she left middle school with little to no education. Attending YTEC, with personalized help, allowed her to experience an environment free from fear."

Once Dominique started attending school through YTEC, she found out that she really enjoyed learning and she advanced to a fourth grade reading level. But, she was never going to be able to catch up to grade level without significant literacy support. Unfortunately, this support is very costly. City Youth Now helped to make it possible for Dominique to work with literacy specialists at The Reading Clinic.

Dominque wrote to let us know how she was doing:

“…When I started at the Reading Clinic I was reading at a fourth grade level, writing at a third grade level, and comprehending at a sixth grade level. I was seventeen years old. Now at the age of eighteen I'm testing at high school level. I'm learning at a faster pace. Each day my reading and writing skills get better because of the foundation I learned at The Reading Clinic. I would just like to say Thank you Volunteer Auxiliary for giving me this great opportunity to want to better my education.

Sincerely,
Dominque”

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Dominique, age 17
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