New Horizons

Ramona Flint was more than down on her luck when she heard about New Horizons. Separated from her husband, depressed and looking for answers while trying to take care of two young children, Flint wasn’t sure where to turn for help. The answer for Flint was found three years ago in the City College catalog.

“I had been working at the time, but really wasn’t getting anywhere,” Flint said. “I knew I wanted to get back to school and do something with my life, but I didn’t have the money or the resources.”

That’s where New Horizons came in. A mainstay for City College and Continuing Education single parents and displaced homemakers, New Horizons has had a successful seven-year run, helping hundreds of young women—and a few men—who want to continue their education but are having trouble juggling single parenthood and school.

“They really came through for me,” Flint said. “They bought some books for me, helped me find ways for my children to be taken care of while I went to class, and gave me job counseling and career advice. They were all very supportive.”

The intervention paid off. Flint is now very close to her associate degree in child development, and one class away from earning her teaching permit. She works at the Ocean Beach Child Care Project near her home and has plans to transfer to San Diego State University, where she will work toward becoming an elementary school teacher.

Not every student who utilizes the resources and the advice of the skilled staff at New Horizons goes as far as Flint, but the program has seen hundreds of similar success stories, women who find direction and a way to manage multiple responsibilities.

“Our students have a variety of issues they are dealing with,” said Elena Adams, the program coordinator. “School is only one of them. These students need help with housing, scholastic and personal counseling, a lack of food and transportation, domestic violence, many things. We’ll help them get into school, then provide a comprehensive resource guide to help them find the appropriate program or agency free or at low cost.”

New Horizons provides book grants to the students. The books are returned by the students and donated to the program’s library, where other students can then use them. A study guide provides information about balancing time, study skills, motivation, note taking, reading, test taking and basic English grammar and math. The book also includes practical tips from successful single-parent students.

“Like all of us, each student is a little different,” Adams said. “They come in because they want to succeed in making a better life for themselves and their families. Many have never had a support system before. We try to empower them. We give them an ear if they need to vent. We cheer for them when they get excited about an A on a test or in a class. We teach them about responsibility and being a good role model. We help them say, ‘Even if I’ve made some errors in my life, I have the ability to make things better.’”

New Horizons is working with more than 235 students this year. “We’re doing much more pre-employment training now, and as the economy changes, we’ll modify the program,” Adams said.

Adams looks at Flint and sees a good example of the program’s effectiveness.

“She fits the profile of the students we assist,” Adams said. “I remember her coming to our office and saying she couldn’t stay in class because she didn’t have books. But she was able to stay, and she worked very hard. We’re proud of her.”

Flint says someday she will give back to the program that helped her.

“However I can,” she said. “I’ll be happy to help students who are in similar situations. I’ve seen that you can make it if you try and have support.”

Ramona Flint and her children foresee a bright future because of help from the New Horizons program.