Alumni Profile
The CAPS Program Has Been My Lifeline
There’s been a big change in my life recently. I’d like to tell you about it and the impact of Excel Academy’s College Access and Post-Secondary Success Program (CAPS). I grew up loving cars, but also had a passion for computers and coding.
When I graduated from Excel, I thought I’d take the tech route, so I enrolled in computer science at UMass Boston. But after a year and a half, I realized it wasn’t the right fit. I was craving a more hands-on experience and was feeling lost. By the end of my first year of UMASS Boston, my GPA had dropped to a 1.3 and I wasn’t sure what to do next. I felt stuck.
My Excel Post-secondary Counselor, Lauren Flinn, was there for me. Even when I stopped reaching out, Ms. Flinn didn’t give up on me. I looked forward to her weekly messages. She genuinely cares about me succeeding. When I was finally ready to be honest about what was going on, she listened without judgment. We mapped out a new plan together—a path that would let me be hands-on with cars while using the tech skills I’d developed.
Today, I’m pursuing a degree in automotive technology at Franklin Cummings Tech and working as an automotive technician at Acura. I’m now on the Honor Roll with a 3.3 GPA. Even more exciting, I was accepted to the Fidelity Scholars Program, one of two winners out of more than 400 applicants. This scholarship covers all my school expenses so I will graduate debt-free.
Ms. Flinn motivates me. Excel’s CAPS program has been my lifeline, from the regular check-ins to the guidance and encouragement that got me on the path I’m on today. I want more students to experience this kind of support that changed my life. I feel absolutely amazing about my prospects for financial advancement. CAPS has helped to push me ahead.
