For Elesha Lee, “a shimmer of light came when a local professor told her about the Gateway to College Program at College of The Albemarle.” Being enrolled in high school and taking on many responsibilities at home, she struggled to deal with the “daily dramas” in a traditional setting. The Gateway to College program, funded through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, provides “a real second chance” for non-traditional students on the verge of dropping out of high school. Through the Gateway to College program, Elesha was able to receive her high school diploma and college credit simultaneously. In fact, Elesha was one of the first graduates of this program in the state of North Carolina. A fact that she is very proud of. Elesha was anxious to continue her learning and is now enrolled in curriculum courses at College of The Albemarle. She was recently accepted at Regent University and will transfer there next fall to work towards a degree in psychology focusing on music therapy.