Students of the early childhood education department at Cosumnes River College found themselves struggling with outside subjects, such as English, that were needed to obtain their degrees.

Faculty of the department saw the students’ troubles and created a program to lead them into the right direction, Pathways to Success.

“I’ve been with student leaders everyday since I started [Pathways to Success],” 42-year old ECE student Vernunda Wilson said. The challenges Wilson faced before she was introduced to the program “have greatly improved.”

Currently, Pathways to Success has four student leaders, two from the ECE department and two from the English department, that work with the students in the program to provide assistance and support.

“My hope is that I can approach the math department, when I can find some more money, to bring in two students from the math department to support the students as well,” said ECE professor Miriam Beloglovsky.

Student leaders of Pathways to Success make themselves available to assist ECE students with concepts taught in the ECE courses, Desire2learn assistance, assignments and other questions, according to the student leaders information handout.

“We’re here, Pathways to Success, to help them [ECE students] succeed this semester and for other semesters,” said Annemarie Keenan, 59, an English major student leader in Pathways to Success. “Because that is our goal, to make them successful as students here, while they are at CRC.”

ECE student Maria Cortes, 46, began working with Pathways to Success after her low level in English and writing caused her to have difficulties in achieving success. “I did not get good grades because of my poor work and I didn’t understand the teachers,” Cortes said.

Cortes entered Pathways to Success and found a new direction. “I continued my next semester and was given the support I needed to get a better grade,” Cortes said.

Improved work was noticed by student leaders of Pathways to Success as well.

“I could see them grow more courageous in writing their papers, they really came up with their own ideas and knew how to express them better and they felt more confident,” Keenen said.

“I remember one student, when she brought me her finished product it was like ‘oh my god, this is beautiful’. I didn’t have to do anything, there were only maybe one or two grammatical errors, but it was perfection and she was proud and I was proud because I felt like success was really achieved,” Keenen continued.

The ECE department obtained two laptops and established a library of books for students in the program, Beloglovsky said.

Furthermore, Pathways to Success brings in workshops for students and makes connections with universities to discuss transferring.

“We are constantly looking for other pathways they can follow,” Beloglovsky said.