Kenedi Atwell knows exactly what success looks like to her. As a student in Rowan College of South Jersey's (RCSJ) Adult Center for Transition (ACT) program, the young artist is sketching out a personalized roadmap to achieving her career and life goals.
“I always want to follow the right path – graduating college, taking a job, getting an apartment," she outlined. “I really want to become an artist. . . I have a passion about art, and music, and writing, and stories."
After graduating from Bankbridge Regional School, Atwell transitioned to their Career Center, a program of the Gloucester Country Special Services School district designed to help students with special needs, ages 18-21, achieve their career goals. It was there she learned of RCSJ's ACT program, located just next door. After a lot of discussions with her parents and her fellow Career Center students, Atwell decided to enroll in the ACT program in September 2022.
“I chose RCSJ because I want to take college classes next," Atwell explained. “I have a challenge with Accuplacer Writing; it was a bit difficult, but I am trying my best."
ACT is a post-secondary program at RCSJ designed for neurodiverse individuals that provides the academic, vocational, and socialization skills required for success in college and the workplace. The program offers a Career Readiness track and a Fundamentals of College track, which prepares young adults with disabilities for collegiate success with college entrance exam preparation; academic, social, and study skills development; guided internship experiences, and more.
“ACT's Fundamental of College cohort helps students like Kenedi get acclimated to a college campus and receive assistance in areas like math, English, career readiness, and digital literacy to prepare for success on the Accuplacer test and within a collegiate environment," explained Ramon Casanova, executive director of ACT.
For Meredith Boody, an ACT program instructor who teaches English, it has been a thrill to see Kenedi gain confidence in her work and in herself over the past two semesters. When they study and discuss short stories, books, and poetry in class, she is always one of the first students ready and eager to answer the reflection questions at the end of the lessons.
“I enjoy seeing her thrive in my class," said Boody. “She enjoys presenting her work now in front of the class. She is more outspoken, very enthusiastic about her writing, and proud of the work she completes."
“Last year, I was a bit nervous in ACT classes," Kenedi agreed. “I found new people and when I met everyone, I felt a bit [more] comfortable about it."
According to Atwell, the best part of ACT has been honing her job skills through a variety of internship experiences. In 2023, she took part in an advertising internship, where she learned how to use Google Draw to create attention-catching flyers.
“Kenedi has an artist side to her – she loves to create artwork," remarked ACT instructor, Gabrielle Razzo, who has taught Kenedi in both math and digital literacy classes over the past two semesters and encouraged her to channel her natural artistic talents into graphic design. “In Digital Literacy class, and as part of her ACT internship, Kenedi has designed flyers for fundraisers, created spreadsheets for data entry, and made an assortment of other creative documents."
This year, Atwell is interning at the Together Café alongside other students from ACT and the Bankbridge Career Center. The café is a unique collaboration between RCSJ, the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, the Rowan-Virtua Integrated Special Needs Center of Rowan University, the County of Gloucester, and the Schools for Neurodiversity at the Gloucester County Special Services School District. Its goal is to create job training and employment opportunities for individuals with physical and developmental disabilities and to promote their inclusion in all aspects of community life.
“I've learned teamwork and being responsible," said Atwell. “Work hard and don't be lazy. Be organized, be confident, be independent."
In her downtime – when she's not in class, at her internship, or engaging in a broad array of hobbies that include drawing; writing stories; reading graphic novels and fanfiction; listening to music; watching cartoons and anime (and drawing her favorite characters!); playing video games; and baking – you can find Atwell making friends in one of RCSJ's student clubs.
“I'm really fond of going to clubs to meet everyone who has the same [interests] as me," said Atwell. “I always introduce myself first and then I try to be friendly and kind."
Atwell is a part of the Anime Club and the Christian Club, as well as a former member of the Gamer's Guild. She is always excited to attend club meetings, especially when she has some homemade treats to share, like her chocolate chip cookies and brookies.
“I always wanted to [help] people to get along," shared Atwell. “I shared [my baked goods] for everyone to try it and to make them feel welcome and feel happy. I wanted to share with them because they're really good people and they deserve something they don't have."
Atwell will graduate from the ACT program next May, after which she plans to enroll in college-level courses and begin work on her degree. And while she and her parents are still discussing the details of her next steps, there are no doubts among her ACT instructors that Atwell will meet and exceed any goal that she sets.
“I am so proud of everything she accomplished so far, and I can't wait to see the way she goes," shared Boody. “I see a very bright future for Kenedi."
To learn more about the Adult Center for Transition program at RCSJ, visit RCSJ.edu/ACT.
