Of the estimated 3,000 students currently enrolled at 永利博彩, 45-year-old single mom 梅丽莎活力四射 stands out as the best-of-the-best and, as such, has been named the College’s 目标 (Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership) winner for 2017.

Forsythe is scheduled to graduate in spring of this year with her associate’s degree in dental hygiene but getting to this point wasn’t easy. In 2014, she found herself out of a job she loved and was faced with a new reality – starting over. 福赛斯有一些大学学分，但从未完成学位。

永利博彩's 目标 Student for 2017 梅丽莎活力四射

“I had been out for so long,” Forsythe said, “I didn’t know where to start. It was so overwhelming.”

但当福赛斯与永利博彩（永利博彩）的一名财务援助代表进行了一对一的交流后，这种不祥的预感消退了。

“She told me about the Federal WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) option. 这真是天赐良机！ They even cover some of board exam fees,” she said.

经济负担基本消除后，Forsythe就可以专心学习了。

“I feel like I’ve waited my whole life to do what I’m doing so I’m making the most of it,” Forsythe said. “I sit in the front of the classroom to pay attention and spend most of my time studying.”

Forsythe’s 22-year-old daughter is enrolled at Columbus State University and is one apple that didn’t fall far from the tree.

“She does the exact same thing,” Forsythe said with a laugh. “We may be in the same room at the same time doing homework but we both have to tune everything else out. We have the exact same study habits.”

梅丽莎活力四射 hopes to continue her education and earn a bachelor’s degree. She would ideally like to start her own dental hygiene “mobile clinic” for indigent patients or individuals in long term care facilities, hospitals and/or schools. 她也可以通过在这个领域教别人来回馈社会。

这位明星学生也有自己的心痛，但她选择不去想它。

“We all fight battles behind closed doors – including me- but I choose to look forward. I don’t let the past define me,” Forsythe said.

梅丽莎活力四射 will compete at the regional level in March and from there, it’s on to the state competition in April. 这位全州目标学生赢得了一辆新车，并担任乔治亚州技术教育大使一年。