Melissa Schmidt

I’ve overcome and dealt with many challenges with the guidance and patience of amazing faculty, and I’m now in my fourth quarter of college."

"When I was released from prison, I was scared! Finding housing as a felon is very difficult. I finally found housing at Pioneer Housing in Tacoma, but even then I had no furniture, no phone, and no lifeline. Strange as it sounds, there was a part of me that wanted to go back to prison because it was so overwhelming for me to be out. I cried for hours until I figured out the bus system and was able to make my way towards my parent’s house outside of Tacoma.

I spent time between my family and my new housing while enrolling in a culinary program at another college. After about six weeks in the program, though, I decided that it wasn’t for me, and, instead, I enrolled at TCC. Enrolling in college and in classes was challenging, especially on top of the requirements of probation, but the TCC staff and my teachers were very understanding. They helped me learn to have structure in my life after being in prison for three years.

I’ve overcome and dealt with many challenges with the guidance and patience of amazing faculty, and I’m now in my fourth quarter of college working towards an Associates in Applied Science in Human Services. I think it’s great that TCC is becoming more aware of the challenges that felons face, like housing, and finding ways to help in the process. I’m getting back on track with my life and doing everything I can to better myself."