It’s that time of year again. It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating graduation season, and now we are already in the midst of college move-in season. Images of students moving into their dorms may be flooding your social media feeds. You, or someone you know, may be experiencing the bittersweet emotions that come with sending a child off to college.
For many youth at Anchor House, reaching this milestone can be even more challenging. They may not have family members to guide and support them as they navigate the college application process and, if they plan to live on campus, prepare for the transition to dorm life. That is where staff like Coral Dayon come in.
Coral is part of the Support Staff for our Anchorage Transitional Living Program. She, Anchorage Case Managers Taylor Carmona and Crystal Perry, and the rest of the Anchorage staff and Anchor House team, all play instrumental roles in helping youth navigate their journey toward higher education. Coral says that supporting young people on this journey is truly a team effort. The Anchorage Case Managers assist students with completing the Common Application and crafting essays required for admission.
Once youth are accepted to a school, Coral, Taylor, Crystal, and the rest of the Anchorage staff, led by Director of Young Adult Services Mereides Delgado, continue to work with them, helping with the necessary paperwork to secure their spot and pursuing scholarships and other opportunities that can make higher education a reality.
Two recent high school graduates at Anchorage expressed their aspirations to attend college when they first entered the program. The Anchorage staff were determined to make these aspirations a reality. For one of the graduates, college came early as he attended a summer program at Ursinus College. He is planning on majoring next year in sports management. The other graduate is planning to attend Mercer County Community College in January 2027.
This year, one Anchorage youth celebrated receiving the Douglas C. McCune Memorial Award, which provides financial support to a young person in an Anchor House program as they pursue their goals. The award honors youth who embody the qualities that defined Mr. McCune’s life: humility, hard work, academic achievement, and a genuine concern for others.
As Coral said, “It is always good to see youth wanting to better their education, always a pleasure trying to help them further their education. A lot of people don’t have that.”
Like families do, Anchor House celebrates the young people in our programs as they reach important milestones. Each year, we hold a graduation celebration where every graduate receives a gift card to help with the essentials as they prepare for their next chapter.
And like a family, our Anchor House team is there for them when it’s time to move into college, preparing them every step of the way, packing up our van with their belongings and helping them to unload and unpack. The transition can be daunting, so staff make sure students have the essentials they need, from bedding and other necessities to the little touches that help a dorm room feel like home.
But the support goes beyond what they can pack in a box or in a suitcase. Staff are also there to help with the butterflies that come with leaving Anchorage, a place that has become home, and beginning a new journey. They are reminded that, while they may be leaving Anchorage, they never leave their Anchor House family behind.
Our youth face unique challenges compared to other college students. For instance, many have experienced homelessness and fear they will have nowhere to stay during school breaks. Coral and Anchorage staff work closely with college counselors to ensure that youth transitioning from Anchorage into college dorms have safe and stable housing during breaks.
Our support does not end once youth leave for college. Staff maintain regular contact with them throughout their college experience, including checking with them that they have somewhere safe to go during breaks. We also provide care packages and, when needed, modest financial assistance to help them with unexpected expenses.
College is not the only higher education path that Anchor House encourages youth to pursue. Attending trade schools and other career-training programs is also encouraged. Coral and her colleagues work to help youth at Anchorage understand that education and career preparation are important steps toward independence. Staff help youth understand that, when they are ready to secure permanent housing, they will need to demonstrate that they earn enough income to afford and sustain it, which has become increasingly difficult in today’s economy.
As Coral explained, staff do everything they can to encourage youth to earn their high school diplomas or GEDs if they do not already have one when they enter Anchor House. They also encourage youth to pursue higher education while teaching them the life skills they need to become independent. For Coral and the Anchorage team, supporting youth on this journey is about helping them build a future and reminding them that they do not have to navigate that journey alone.
Support Anchor House programs like Anchorage that help youth pursue education and reach their goals and dreams. Donate today.
