North Carolina's Governor's School

The summer before her senior year, Dawn spent 6 weeks at North Carolina's Governor's School in Raleigh on the campus of Meredith College.  This program is for select rising high school juniors and seniors in the Tar Heel state.  Burns High Principal, Gary and other administrators had taken notice of Dawn’s potential and hard work and encouraged Dawn to apply.  When Dawn was admitted to Governor’s School, they made sure she had everything she needed.  Not only was the Burns community helpful to Dawn, many in the Shelby and Cleveland County communities were too.  A Shelby dentist, Kendalyn, provided Dawn and her brother free dental care and contributed for essentials for her Governor’s School adventure.  Of course, Robyn was there to help Dawn.  They went shopping together and Robyn made sure Dawn had everything she needed and a few things that Robyn wished she just wanted.  School counselor's and teachers use their own money and spend their time off with many needy students who attend their schools and no credit is granted nor is it expected by them.  There are many who wear halos!

Dawn is very proud and frugal and it can be a struggle for Dawn to buy something if it is not a good deal or very much needed no matter who is paying for it.  If Dawn looked at something, Robyn would ask, “do you like it, will you wear it, well then, put it in the cart!”  Robyn was the one who drove Dawn to Raleigh and got her settled in to Governor’s school.  Dawn appreciates everything that Robyn (Dawn addresses her as Mrs.____) does for her.  I heard her say many times.

Dawn thrived in Governor’s school as she was with other

Travel day at Governor's School

students who were also interested in academics.  And she reconnected with Emily, a girl from Hendersonville that she knew from middle school.  Dawn and Emily hung out together at Governor's school and when GS had their "Travel Day", the two girls wore costumes created out of aluminum foil which Dawn is wearing in the photo to the left.  It pleased Dawn that Emily had applied to Davidson, one of the colleges that Dawn had also applied!

A threat was looming that Governor's School would be unfunded due

Dawn's photo from The Star Article

to State budget cuts so Dawn wrote a newspaper article in our local paper (Dawn's article in The Shelby Star) to argue the value of this program.  Unfortunately, the threat was materialized and Governor's School was unfunded and many thought gone for good.  Thankfully the alumnae organized and raised money to fund the program but with a reduced number of participants and also with a tuition fee for the attendees.

Towards the end of Governor’s school, Dawn became aware that something was wrong at home.  Her parents had planned a week trip to Tennessee when Dawn had left for GS but as Dawn tried to reach them and never got through, she realized that they had probably moved away.  Dawn came home from one of the most prestigious summer programs for North Carolina students and found herself homeless and alone.  Dawn “couch hopped” (her term) for a few weeks while the  Burns community took action and found Dawn a place to stay.  Sheryl and Norm opened their home to Dawn.  It was kind of a perfect situation since they lived a 15 minute walk from Burns.  If Dawn ever needed she could get to and from school and work on her own.  Sheryl is a custodian at Burns Middle School and she knew Dawn because she had been friends with her daughter, Amber.   Did I mention that Dawn is also a custodian?  She works as a custodian at Burns High School for 2 hours in the morning before school and 2 hours in the afternoon after school, with time off for club meetings, etc.  The first time Dawn was going to spend the night with me, we went to Sheryl and Norm’s to get her stuff but Norm would not let Dawn go until he got the “OK” from Sheryl.  Norm had not heard of me yet but Sheryl knew that I was helping Dawn with her college applications.  I was so happy that they cared enough to make sure I was legitimate.  Later, as I read one of Dawn’s college essays, I realized even though Sheryl and Norm seemed like a stable home for Dawn, she still had a well known fear that this could all be gone at a drop of a hat.  Dawn longs for stability and not to be dependent on anyone.  Maybe Sheryl and Norm have given Dawn a little taste of what she longs for.  I just have to mention again that Sheryl and Norm have my utmost respect.  I love them for what they have done for Dawn.  Dawn was never put in the foster care system so Sheryl and Norm were not compensated for their efforts except for the joy of helping a very deserving girl.  They are so proud of Dawn and love her very much as I do.  I am glad Sheryl and Norm are my friends.

Dawn doing her homework in her room at Sheryl and Norm's.