It’s a day Kevin Chew will never forget. He was a freshman at Wilmer-Hutchins High School and his mother passed away. The entire ordeal was understandably traumatic for him, and it left him despondent, unmotivated, without hope, and eventually thinking about dropping out of school.
Somehow, Chew found the strength to apply himself, get motivated, and find his zeal and passion again. He found support and encouragement from family and friends who encouraged him to keep going and do his best.
“I was really in a dark place where I didn’t care,” Chew said. “My family and friends reminded me that I had so much to live for and I wanted to make my mother proud.”
Chew is now a proud member of the graduating class of 2021 at Wilmer-Hutchins and is the first in his family to graduate from high school.
“I am so proud of Kevin and his sheer determination to succeed in spite of everything he’s been through,” said Wilmer-Hutchins E-Tech Collegiate Administrator Kerrie Barree. “He has been a joy to work with. He has earned everything he has gotten.”
Thanks to his participation in the E-Tech program, Chew graduated with his high school diploma and is close to completing an associate degree in construction technology, with an emphasis on electrical training. He plans to apply for a paid internship with Oncor, an industry partner of the E-Tech program. The internship will help him to achieve his dream of being a master electrician and becoming a lineman who repairs electrical lines.
“Even when you feel like quitting, find the motivation,” Chew said. “Look for the motivation and hope to keep going. Hope is key.”
