Nikki Partridge
2009 SAM State Winner
Coweta PLC
Public Speaking-High School

My name is Nikki Partridge. I am a senior at Newnan High School and a student in the Performance Learning Center (PLC) in Coweta County. I would love to tell you how Communities In Schools (CIS) and PLC has changed me and the way I look at school and life.

My mom died when I was nine years old. Even though I was only nine, it tore me up inside. I thought that I had learned to just live with it, because there was nothing I could do about it. I went to live with my grandma. For six years she was the person who raised me and did everything for me. While I was living with my grandma I kind of gave her a hard time. I really regret everything bad I ever did to her, because she was my mom and dad all at the same time. My dad has never been in my life, so if it had not been for my wonderful grandma, I would have been in foster care. Then when I was 15 years old, she died, too. She died in my arms. It felt like my heart had come out of my chest or like I have been run over by a car. The last thing I remember her saying was, “Help!” For me not to be able to help her was even more devastating. How could anything be any worse? After all this my world really came crashing down. I did not care about anything anymore. That time in my life was heart-breaking and very depressing.
It was difficult then, and to this day, it is hard to believe that all of those things happened. The hardest thing any child has to go through is the death of a parent, but for both to go is devastating. I thought I was not going to survive. I always thought to myself, “What’s the point of living? The two most important people in my life are gone. At school in the 9th and 10th grades I didn’t care. My auntie was the one helped to overcome those difficult feelings. I went to live with her; she took care of me, and would always tell me, “If you don’t get your education for yourself, at least do it for your grandma. Make her proud.” I decided to take her advice and do what she said. Once I got to the 11th grade I really started focusing and talking to my counselors. By now I was already behind schedule to graduate on time.

One of the counselors gave me the PLC application to fill out. Before I knew it, I had to go for an interview. Me. VanDrew told me then that I was accepted even though she usually tells people by mail. That brought the biggest smile to my face, because she could tell just how badly I wanted to be in the program. Ever since I’ve been in PLC, I’ve worked so hard to catch up on my credits and graduate. My teacher, Ms. Turner, encourages me all the time and helps me stay on track. She really believes in m, and it feels good to know that I have someone who encourages me and sees the best in me. I’ve never had that in my life. I’ve always been down and did not care much about school. I’ve been hurt way too many times and learned to hold everything in. I cry a lot because of what I’ve been through and everything that I have done. To this day I could never tell anyone just how bad I hurt inside. For me to be here and to have the opportunity to be open and let my feelings out feels really good. It takes so much off of my chest. But, look at me now. I’m a much, much, much better person today than what I used to be. I’m doing good, feeling good, and graduating on time. Now, I’m eager to go to school every day to finish my credits and be a 2010 graduate of Newnan High School. When I graduate from high school, I plan on going to the Air Force. I would like to study nursing in the Air Force. If there is an entry delay, I would like to begin nursing classes at West Georgia Technical College.
Nursing is where my heart is. I enjoy helping others and seeing smiles on their faces. At PLC, we work on giving back to our community. With a nursing career, I can give back to my community every day. If I ever meet a younger person who is going through a similar experience, I will encourage them and show them the love that was shared with me at Communities In Schools. I believe God puts each individual through certain circumstances for a reason. He would not put us through anything we couldn’t overcome to become a stronger person. He also gives us a way to deal with those difficulties. Communities In Schools has been my “way to deal.”
I would like to say from the bottom of my heart, “Thank you so much CIS and PLC for everything you do to support students like me. This program has made me look at life and education from a much better perspective. I am so grateful to be a part of PLC. Keep up the good work CIS!”