Rita Wallace

"Rita came to Midland College's federal Student Support Service program in the fall of 2002. Rita stands out as a great SSS participant because of her inner strength and tenacity. I think she would tell you her strength comes from her deep faith. Most students experience some difficulties during their course of studies. Rita has had her share. Through each hard time, she sought solutions and focused on her goals. She always expresses gratitude and looks to help others along the way."

--Judy Jordan Merritt

Midland College Student Support Services Director

One would only need to spend a few minutes with Rita Wallace to understand the accuracy of Merritt's description. Calm and self-possessed, with an infectious confidence, and hardship apparently made no mark on this lovely woman. In fact, it was suggested, her endeavors would define "success."

A successful participant in Casa de Amigos' AmeriCorps program, Wallace used her scholarship to enroll at Midland College in 2002. In May, 2005, she completed an associate's degree at MC, and went on to become a project assistant for the Business and Economic Development Center.

As she used the resources in Casa de Amigos' AmeriCorps program, Wallace used her scholarship to enroll at Midland College in 2002. In May, 2005, she completed an associate's degree at MC, and went on to become a project assistant for the Business and Economic Development Center.

As she used the resources of the Student Support Services (SSS) program to help with her education at MC, she gave something back to the program. "Rita is a light for others," Merritt said.

At one point in her life, Wallace was a stay-at-home mother of four, and was struggling. She needed an education—she took a few college courses in her home state of California; she needed a job—her original ambition was to be involved in musical theater; and she needed support—her parents were thousands of miles away in California.

With a plan "to get on my feet and get my act together," Wallace said she found that "everything happens the way it is supposed to." In 2000, Casa de Amigos had a state-supported AmeriCorps program. Under that program, which provided a stipend to give her a small income and eventually a college scholarship, Wallace taught parenting classes around the city.

At the same time, her church family provided support and reinforced her deep faith. "This is a God thing," she said. "He really provided what I needed."

What she needed was a little redirection in her chosen career—radiology. She liked the medical field and had supplemented her AmeriCorps stipend by working for Nurses Unlimited. She couldn't get into MC's radiology program immediately, which proved to be a blessing since she found she didn't really like the "blood and needles."

The (HITTS) program turned out to be the program she was looking for, and instructor Melinda Teel gave her a new shot of energy to finish school. "Melinda was like a shot of vitamin B-12," she said.

With training designed to prepare her to work with medical records—maintaining, organizing, analyzing and generating health information for patient treatment, reimbursement, planning, quality assessment and research, Wallace was also looking to the next phase of her life while she finished training at Midland Memorial, perhaps in work that would take her closer to the patient. "It's in my nature to help people," she said.

Eventually, she was able to reflect on how far she had come and how much help she got along the way. "Midland has so many services," Wallace said. And, she acknowledged her own drive that kept her in touch with those services.

"I have so much pride. I was going to do whatever I needed to take care of my family," she said. She also wanted to show her gratitude to her parents. "They are the kind of people who deserve to have a kid who went to college. I did this for them ... for my kids ... and for myself."

She expresses gratitude to the folks at Casa de Amigos, particularly to Paul Brooks who supervised her work for AmeriCorps, and to the AmeriCorps program.

"It changes you. You can do things you didn't think you could do," she said. And, she acknowledges the people at MC who helped her succeed. "I love the people at MC."

In the end, "appreciative, privileged and blessed," she makes sure to reflect on her ultimate source of support. "All this is due to the grace of God—that is my foundation."