Patty P.

Life for Patty became most fulfilling after January 1997, when she married the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with and who she truly loved "unconditionally." Patty feels this was the first time her “road map of life was on the right course, headed in the right direction with no reason to look back and ponder.” At this point, higher education was not on her road map.

However, on Father's Day June 1999, Patty’s road map was changed forever. Patty’s husband was arrested on federal charges and suddenly her road became riddled with potholes. After traveling this riddled broken highway for two years, she found herself surrounded with support from some very wonderful people. She was encouraged to get back on course by returning to school. After pondering this advice for some time, Patty made the decision to return to school not only to repair the major potholes, but to become educated in such a way that others would benefit from her education. This is when she enrolled in MEOC.

Patty’s MEOC advisor provided the "inspiration" and guidance she needed in order to achieve her goal of a college education. Patty feels it was the inspiration offered that allowed her to achieve the educational goals she set and continues to set. After a six-year absence, Patty’s husband has returned home and actively supports her educational goals.

Since starting college at the University College at Bangor in the fall of 2003, she has been on the Dean's List every semester. While proud of this, she is much more proud of the lives positively impacted by her return to school. Since her enrollment in college, Patty started a project to establish a library at the Penobscot County Jail. This project has grown from the County Jail to other jails, homeless shelters and group homes. Also, since starting college, Patty became the President of the Law Society, founded and became the President of the Drama Club, is a staff writer for the school paper, and, most importantly, has become an educated human being just wanting to give a smile to anyone for the taking. To Patty, it is not the special projects, the accomplishments, or the GPA that is important; it is that she is able to utilize her education to inspire others in the same way.

Patty’s future educational plans include law school.

Patty feels the importance of her decision to attend college will be its positive effect on the rest of her life and the lives of her family especially when the society she is surrounded by has been positively impacted as a direct result of her education.