
The Benefits of Perseverance
In August of 2020, sixteen-year-old David Chapman Burress decided to start his college plan early and enrolled in the Adult Education program at Northeast Mississippi Community College (NEMCC).
After beginning the program, David found that the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) Gateway Youth Program provided an excellent opportunity to acquire work experience. He began taking NEMCC’s Industrial Maintenance classes. The training sessions were long and challenging, but he persevered.
His hard work paid off and, in a few months, he completed his Smart Start course and received his High School Equivalency Diploma— all on the same day.
After completing his Industrial Maintenance courses, David plans to enroll in the Welding Program on the Northeast campus. He is grateful every day that he decided to get an early start to college and is excited about his future.