Catherine Beechie Takes a Non-Traditional Approach to Berea
Resources and opportunities. The right combination of both can provide the window to success but without these our chances in life are improbable. A little over a year ago my life could have been described as improbable. I was quickly approaching my twenty-eighth birthday, working in a coffee house and attending a local community college all while taking care of my son and my husband. It was in that same year I chose to swallow my pride and take the general education exam to receive my GED. This was a pivotal decision because it allowed me, for the first time, to apply for financial aid to help pay for my education, as well as, engender a glimmer of hope within me that I might have the opportunity to pursue an academically challenging education of my choosing. Of the two years that I spent in community college I was only able to accumulate the equivalency of a year’s worth of credit but now-now I felt empowered to expect more of myself and of the quality of my education.
In August of that same year, just a couple of months after receiving my GED, I came across an article on msn.com. The headline of this article proclaimed they knew of ten colleges who offered tuition-free educations. I think I snorted and chuckled a little after reading the headline. It was a preposterous claim, and I knew it, but I felt compelled to read the article so that I might learn the names of these colleges that falsely raised hope. Of course, after reading the article I researched each individual college that had been listed and to my surprise I was able to validate all their claims of a free education; however, Berea College was the only school on the list that met, and in some areas exceeded, my standards. In one college I was able to find an 11:1 teacher/student ratio, classes taught by professors and not teaching assistants, faculty who are experts in their fields, a small campus, beautiful grounds, a rich local history, opportunity to learn about a region I knew little about, high academic standards, quality and affordable childcare, undergraduate research opportunities, a wide variety of courses to select from, and the chance to take part in a history whose roots and motto embody what I hold so dear to my heart. I found Berea College to be irresistible.
I applied to the college in November of 2008. I wasn’t aware at the time I applied that changes were taking place regarding their application deadlines. What should have only been a two to three month wait for a reply turned out to be an almost seven month wait. During my wait I made many anxious phone calls to the staff in the admissions office (I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for my incessant questioning). I was always treated with understanding, concern, and promptness throughout every call I made, especially by Joe Bagnoli, who assuaged my fears after learning that my application would not be considered because of a communication error. Needless to say my application was considered and on June 6, 2008 I arrived home from work to find an envelope from the admissions department at Berea College with my name on it. In that letter I was congratulated on my acceptance to the college but what I believe I was being congratulated for was earning that privilege and honor. Despite a history of poor choices and the poor choices made on my behalf, despite my limited means and lack of family prestige, Berea College acknowledged the efforts I had made and believed in my capability to achieve as I believe it of myself. I was being offered an opportunity and the resources to make it happen.
It is now the middle of November 2009 and I am in the last five weeks of my first semester at Berea College. So far my experience has been everything I expected with an abundance of additional bonuses. I have been blessed with a team of dedicated and passionate professors this semester: Professor Thesing, Dr. Burnside, Dr. Butler, and Dr. Bates; my extended campus family in the alumni relations office with Mae and Nolan and the entire Berea Ambassador team; and the amazing team of men and women, to name a few: Miss Sandy; Mr. Manuel; Miss Lisa; Miss Stephanie; and Mr. Jess, who are helping my son to grow and appreciate learning while I do so as well. Thank you, Berea College.
