Twenty-one-year-old Tyea Romas is currently working on a Bachelor’s degree in Community Mental Health. If you had suggested she’d be in this position four years ago, she would not have believed you. Tyea is a former crown ward who lived in foster homes and did not see post-secondary education in her future.
That all changed when she took a dual credit through Georgian College. A Lifestyle Management course taught by Megan Kirk Chang led Tyea down a different path.
“I didn’t know that college was possible for me. I had no idea of what to do,” she comments. “Going to the dual credit was like, wow, I want to break the cycle of foster care. It truly motivated me to change my life. I loved my dual credit experience.”
Tyea gained a 91% in the dual credit course and a new perspective. She completed high school as an Ontario Scholar, received honours in her Child and Youth Care diploma at Seneca College, and moved on to the degree program she will finish in 2023. This summer she will work with the York Region Children’s Aid Society helping parents whose children have been placed in care learn the skills necessary to reunite their families.
“I hope my experience brings comfort to kids in care and provides insight to the challenges and barriers of living in foster care. Knowing there are parents who want to work to get their kids back and have positive relationships is incredible to me.”
This all started with a guidance counsellor who suggested a dual credit would be a good option for Tyea.
“I’m really proud of what I have accomplished at this age,” she says. “Dual credit is the reason. It helps you understand that college is attainable. I truly can’t believe how far I have come in breaking the cycle. I give credit to the dual credit program. It really does work.”
The spring dual credit semester begins in April at Georgian College. For more information, contact Michelle Rao.
