Ready to Work: News & Views
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Rust BantonMy name is Rust M. Banton. I am 25 years old now. As I walk around the campus of Central Kentucky Technical College, and think about my first day here I realize that I have not always been this strong. When I was 19 I found out that I was pregnant. I was scared stupid. I thought I could be a single parent and work full time and everything would be okay. So for 3.5 years I had no assistance mentally, financially or otherwise, all because I didn't ask for help. I was so miserable. Then my world came crashing down. The company I was working for as a fast food manager shut down. All of a sudden I found myself with no job. To make things worse my car broke down and soon after that my daughter and I were evicted. As I stood on the corner at 2:00 am holding my precious 3-year-old bundle of curls I knew that I, the strongest person I know, had failed. I knew at that moment that I needed help. Soon, I applied for K-TAP, food stamps, housing at Virginia Place - One Parent Family Facility, and school.On my first day of school, I knew in my heart I would never complete the program of automotive technology. I kept thinking when I do screw up I'm going to let a lot of people down. Soon after starting school I began to receive mail from the Ready to Work program. I had heard and seen the name Debby Vantreese around campus, but I didn't want to get involved because I truly believed I wasn't going to finish school. However I read the papers she sent me and realized she had a lot of resources to offer me. Then I started screwing up again and I needed more help. I was losing ground fast and about to be homeless again. So as a fluke incident I stopped to talk with Debby. I soon realized that when she said she could help, she actually followed through. Anything I needed, from an ear to listen, to a work-study job, all the way to Christmas presents for my still beautiful curly haired 5-year-old. A lot has changed in my life since starting school, meeting Debby and becoming involved in the Ready-to-Work program. I am no longer walking around campus wondering when it is all going to end. Now I know. May 13 at 7:00 I walk the line with a college degree. Rust's academic accomplishments include being the state and regional gold medal winner for SkillsUSA/VICA in prepared speech; president of her school chapter of SkillsUSA/VICA; and completing the Automotive Technology Program. She will receive an Associates Degree in Applied Science in May 2002. Read other Ready-to-Work Student Stories |