One of our Federal Way High School CIS Alumni, Marshun was one of 6 students from across the country to receive a full scholarship to attend the alumni track at CIS National’s Professional Development and Leadership training in Los Angeles! The goals of this track are for alumni to gain a greater understanding of – and build an even stronger connection to – Communities In Schools and the Alumni Leadership Network, as well as strengthen their public speaking, career and leadership skills. He will join 90 other CIS Alumni from across the country, and have the opportunity to network with other students who have also overcome many obstacles to achieve success.
Our School Outreach Coordinator, Kaitlin Thomas, first met Marshun during his Sophomore year at Federal Way High School when he stopped by her office to talk about college. As Kaitlin got to know Marshun more, he opened up about his home life and his family’s financial struggles. Growing up, Marshun’s Dad wasn’t in the picture, so Marshun, being the oldest, was the man of the house and helped his mom raise his younger siblings. Marshun’s Mom has always done her best, but struggled to make ends meet. Knowing this, Kaitlin was able to provide him and his family with food, school supplies, Thanksgiving baskets, Christmas gifts, and other basic needs items. More importantly, though, was the relationship that Marshun and Kaitlin built over the next three years.
Marshun has a very outgoing and charismatic personality, so it sometimes surprises people that in high school he had a hard time finding where he fit in. At times, he found himself hanging around the wrong group of people just trying to find himself. Because the relationship between Marshun and Kaitlin was so strong, she was able to be completely honest with him and hold him accountable for the decisions he was making. She would constantly check in with him about attendance and grades, something his mom, working full-time and taking care of 4 younger children, didn’t always have time to do.
Marshun always had the potential, he just needed of someone to hold him accountable and be tough on him to make sure he was staying on track. With Kaitlin’s guidance and tough love, Marshun graduated from Federal Way High School in 2016, and went on to enroll at Washington State University. Since he’s been at WSU, Kaitlin and Marshun talk on the phone every couple of months to catch up. He still needs encouragement, from time to time, to continue working hard at college, because he struggles knowing his mom and siblings really need him at home. Kaitlin has continued to be a mentor to him while he’s at WSU and reminds him that the best thing he can do for his family is to be there getting an education.
Marshun has described Communities In Schools as his “foundation,” knowing that Kaitlin and CIS has helped him realize the potential that he had always possessed. Recently, Marshun was the Master of Ceremonies for the Communities In Schools of Washington State Annual Mardi Gras Auction. Marshun’s charisma on stage and telling of his personal success story helped the state office raise nearly $220,000!
