Homeless Dropout Becomes Gifted Educator

One amazing ChalleNGe success story is that of Summer Slade Gales, who graduated from the Commonwealth ChalleNGe Program in Virginia with the first class, 1994-1995.  Summer says, "I don't know how my life would have turned out, were it not for the chance I was given by ChalleNGe -and I don't want to know! I would like to thank the Cadre and staff for providing the solid foundation and personal guidance I needed to gain maturity and success in life.

"Prior to the ChalleNGe program, I was a homeless teenaged dropout, in an abusive relationship, with very little support or prospects for change. The ChalleNGe program provided me with the skills and self-efficacy I needed to make positive changes in my life."

FROM DROPOUT TO CADET
At age twelve, Summer was kicked out of her home and reported as a runaway. After several similar incidents, she was unable to get back into school. For a year, she lived on the street with a group of other kids who were not in school.

Sometimes they stayed at each other's houses when parents were away, and at other times, in abandoned or unrented houses at night. During the day, Summer hung out at a friend's high school and helped students with their homework. One way or another, she and these homeless kids found ways to survive.

After about a year, Summer was able to move with her family to another town where she started school again. She was an A student and in gifted classes. But, again, problems at home resurfaced and escalated, including siblings in trouble with the law and conflict with her mother and mother's boyfriend.

By age fourteen, worn-out from her home situation, Summer used her sister's Social Security card to get a job to support herself. She managed to get her own apartment, replete with hazards-roach infestations, water leaking down the walls from the upstairs apartment, and electrical shocks when she touched appliances.

A guidance counselor managed to get her back into school, again in gifted classes, with the promise of a scholarship. But, Summer was unable to get the necessary paperwork processed.

The next year, she got involved with an unemployed, abusive boyfriend, and they lived together in her dilapidated apartment, and later with his alcoholic mother. Summer worked two jobs, between thirty-five and fifty hours a week, including the late closing shift at McDonald's.

Eventually she found that the work required for her survival interfered too much with school, and she quit. But, somehow, she had made it through eighth grade. By age sixteen, to gain independence, she arranged to get legally emancipated so she could manage her life legally as an adult.

Attending a weekly church program, Summer became acquainted with a woman who would dramatically change her life. She told Summer about ChalleNGe and even volunteered to be her mentor. To Summer, this sounded like an unbelievable opportunity.

FINDING ORDER AT CHALLENGE
At ChalleNGe, Summer says that for the first time in her turbulent life, she found order. She became convinced that this was the best choice to get her life together. Summer learned everything she could and formed a student council where she became an officer and respected leader. In the program, she had many opportunities to exercise her newly discovered leadership abilities, including becoming a squad leader.

Summer remembers, "At ChalleNGe, I learned how to be part of a team, where before I had had to fend for myself. I learned how to take directions. I watched positive role models, saw how they interacted, and studied their examples of leadership. I wanted to learn everything I could, and soon I began to consider careers."

Summer was the first one in her class to meet graduation requirements, and because she achieved it so early, she got a job and also did volunteer work. Here, she learned additional work skills, ways to interact as a team player in another environment, and gained experience useful for her resume.

COLLEGE, BABY, AND ARMY
With the help of the career services and guidance provided by ChalleNGe, Summer immediately found employment after graduation. Her mentor helped her obtain financial aid and enroll in a community college. Summer says, "Applying study skills learned at ChalleNGe helped me to be successful in college."

After the first quarter, Summer's first child was born. Still in a dangerous relationship with her boyfriend, including abuse, alcoholism, and illegal activities, she knew she had to get away to protect her baby. Joining the military seemed to be the quickest and easiest way.

Now Summer struggled with a new dilemma-the Army's requirement that she must relinquish custody of her baby because she was a single parent. An improved relationship with her mother convinced Summer to give her custody during basic training.

Summer recalls, "Throughout eight weeks of basic training, and thirteen weeks of MOS (job) training, I surpassed each obstacle by applying skills and training learned through ChalleNGe. Drill Sergeants, push-ups, flutter-kicks, five-mile runs, KP duty, classes, drill and ceremony, leadership, teamwork-no matter the obstacle, ChalleNGe had prepared me for it. I remembered the firm, compassionate leadership I experienced from the Cadre at ChalleNGe and found opportunities to emulate it."

After training, Summer was ordered to report to a base in Texas. Unwilling to leave her baby, yet unable to bring her to Texas without custody, Summer felt that her only alternative was to marry her boyfriend and regain custody. Her unemployed husband refused to go with her unless he could bring along two also-unemployed friends. Summer gave him a choice between his family or his friends, and he chose the latter. Her mother kept the baby again until Summer was settled in Texas.

Within weeks, her husband had drained the money from her bank account, spending it partying with friends, not on their daughter. One day, Summer got a call to go to the command tent where she learned that her husband was in jail for a double homicide. He was later convicted.

"Life in Texas for me and my daughter was pretty good," remembers Summer. I started working on my Bachelor's degree, and I was approved to enroll in officers' training. But I decided to pursue a dream I've had since fifth grade-to be a teacher. I had been inspired by both good and bad teachers. When I had a bad teacher I would think, 'This could be done better.' A good teacher caused me to observe and discern what was being done well."

Separating from the Army with an honorable discharge, Summer and her daughter moved to Ohio with the man she would later marry, Jermaine Gales. She enrolled in a community college, then the University of Dayton.

TODAY
Today, Summer has a Bachelor of Science degree, certification in Elementary Education, and is working on a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership with a graduation date of July 17, 2004. For five years, she taught fourth and eighth grades at a charter school in Dayton, Ohio, and now is teaching sixth grade at another public school.

Summer says that she is the happily remarried mother of four beautiful children, ages eleven, eight, four, and two. She owns her home, is financially secure, and plans to start an education-related business within the next four years. All of these accomplishments at age twenty-five, by a former homeless, high school dropout!

Says Summer, "I am happy to contribute my story for ChalleNGe. I had a wonderful experience with the program and want to provide insight, inspiration, or information to support it. Thank you, ChalleNGe, and keep up the good work."