Male Student Success Initiative (MSSI)

Transcript

Let’s meet up with Bernard, a Sophomore who is working on becoming fluent in American Sign Language with the help of CCBC. He’ll tell us about some important people in his life who helped inspire and point him in the right direction for a career, and who mentored him along the way so that he could gain not only the knowledge but also the confidence he needed to tackle his dreams. 

Thanks for the introduction Alex! What’s up everyone! My name is Bernard, but everyone at school calls me Buzi.
I won’t lie, I wasn’t sure what to major in when I enrolled at CCBC. What I did know was that I wanted to be an educated black male, and when CCBC came into my life, I considered it divine intervention. My older brother Michael has been deaf since adolescence and American Sign Language is an important form of communication in my family’s life. For this reason, CCBC’s American Sign Language and Interpreter Preparation program caught my attention. The program is designed to prepare you for fluency in American Sign Language, expose you to deaf culture and ultimately prepare you to professionally interpret between ASL and English. I was concerned about finding a job with a degree in ASL. This is where another amazing asset at CCBC – the Male Student Success Initiative, or MSSI – filled in the answers for me. MSSI is designed to improve graduation rates and ensure career readiness among male students of color. My MSSI advisors assured me there was demand for American Sign Language interpreters, and steered me toward special education. I pursued a summer internship at a grade school, and now I have a passion to work with children who face learning challenges. In addition to helping me find a career path, MSSI has supported me in so many other ways, from leadership training, to travel opportunities, to forming a brotherhood with other students.
I’ve learned never to be afraid to ask for help, especially with all the resources CCBC has to offer. This includes a community of trustworthy advisors and mentors who want to see students succeed, earn that education they’ve dreamed of, and know that the sky’s the limit.
Alex, back to you.

Bernard, way to fulfill your dream of earning an education in American Sign Language. You had a hard time seeing yourself on this career path, but the folks at CCBC had your back and gave you the support and sense of community you needed to succeed. Truly inspiring. Thanks for sharing your story.