Episode 41: Adult Education Graduate Chloe Brimley

May 31st, 2024 /
Shauna Sprunger /

Sup with the Sup

00:00 / 13:19

Welcome everyone to the next episode of Provo City School District’s What’s Up with the Sup podcast. I am Superintendent Wendy Dau, and our podcast this week features one of our graduates from our adult education program. But first, let’s not forget our updates.

This week was the first official week of summer. We hope you have all been enjoying the time off and the extra sleep.
If you are interested in hearing updates regarding the construction projects happening in the district, please visit the district website and click on the new construction newsletter sign up link. The next newsletter will be sent out following the June 11th board meeting.
Our next board meeting will be on June 11th. There will be both a study session and a business meeting. The study session will be held in Boardroom 1 and is open to the public. And the business meeting will be held in the Professional Development Center. Times will be posted on the website when we get closer to that date.
Please watch for the summer newsletter to come to all households in Provo the first part of July. We love to share all of the great things that are taking place across Provo City School District with you.
Stay tuned for podcasts every Friday, even throughout the summer, we’re going to be highlighting different administrators and schools as we get ready to start the 2024 2025 school year.

And now let’s talk to our guest.

Wendy: I’m here with Chloe Brimley, and she is one of our adult education graduates this year. And we are really using these last few weeks to highlight all of the graduates from our different schools across Provo City School District. Welcome to our podcast.

Chloe: It’s an honor.

Wendy: Oh, I love that. So tell us a little bit about your story, Chloe. Like how did you end up at adult ed? What, what brought you to that, to that space?

Chloe: So, kind of started around my freshman year of high school. I got really anxious, almost to the point where I could not leave the house without kind of breaking down. And so, I worked a lot with independence and they finally kind of introduced total education to me and being able to kind of go in every so often, but do most of the work at home that really helped. So I was able to like get all the packets done and get all my credits and I was able to graduate.

Wendy: Oh, that’s awesome. So it’s really important then that we have like, different options for students because it’s not a one size fits all for everyone, right? Tell me if there is a person in Adult Ed that really just made all the difference or that really helped you or that you would love to give a shout out to.

Chloe: Definitely Gayle Painter. She was like my rock there. She was awesome. Constantly was making sure like all of my packets somehow related to what I wanted to do in the future and yeah, she was just constantly just always making sure I was doing everything and she really got to know me which not a lot of my past teachers kind of did. They have so many students so they couldn’t really get to know you personally but she was able to kind of learn me more and how I worked and was able to like kind of cater to what I needed and it was really amazing.

Wendy: So you got quite a personalized learning experience as a result. That’s awesome. Okay. So what is something that you learned in Adult Ed throughout this experience that you were like, that’s awesome. Like I had no idea I had an interest in this or I don’t know, something you want to share about that.

Chloe: I definitely learned a lot more kind of about… There was one packet I did that was about, like, radiation that I was like, I

Wendy: had no idea there was a packet about radiation. That’s incredible.

Chloe: I learned that one and it kind of talked about kind of like nuclear meltdowns and like Chernobyl and like all those ones and then like the effects of radiation and I was like, wow, stay away.

Wendy: Stay away. I don’t want, I don’t want any part of that.

Chloe: Yeah.

Wendy: Wow. That’s, that’s amazing. Yeah. Is it just through packets that you get your credits, or are there online modules that you do, or talk a little bit about what those different options are and what that looks like.

Chloe: For me, I did mostly packets. So I, like, each packet was worth, like, 2 points, like, 25 credit, like, ha, bleh.

Wendy: A .25 credit.

Chloe: .25 credit, yeah. And I did a lot of those, but there was a couple courses that I had to do online, like, for, like, digital studies. There’s just some things where you kind of had to use more. Like your computer and phone and stuff.

Wendy: Technology and stuff like that.

Chloe: They offered classes you could go in person. Like they had a history class and everything, but I prefer to kind of just do like the independent study.

Wendy: Okay. So that worked out really well for you. And then when you say that you go in every once in a while, was that just a check in or it’s like I’m going in to turn in my packets or? So I’m checking in with a person or talk about what that looks like.

Chloe: So you went in to turn in your packets and check in. So you would turn in the packets and Gaylel would grade your packets and you would test on it. And then depending on like your test score, you would get your credits awarded to you. So you’d go into like test on your packets and take like test outs if you didn’t, if you felt confident enough to move on for doing like not having to do a full packet.

Wendy: That’s awesome.

Chloe: Yeah. You’re like, yes, I don’t have to do this packet and I get the credit because I already know it.

Wendy: Yeah. That’s amazing. So I think a lot of people don’t realize that with those packets, there is a test that’s associated with it. And so they just think, Oh no, I’m just doing this packet and whatever, and it doesn’t work like that.

Chloe: So they were pretty easy though. So you, if you, as long as you really knew what you were doing in the packet, you could knock them out pretty fast.

Wendy: Okay, good. Yeah. So it created a great option for you. Now tell us what your plans are. Now that you have your high school diploma.

Chloe: So ever since I started getting my education, I’ve been very passionate about wanting to pursue it. And I knew from day one, I would want to go into a field of science. So

Wendy: Yeah, that’s why you were fascinated by the radiation pack.

Chloe: Yeah.

Wendy: Okay.

Chloe: And so the field I will be going into with college is field of marine biology. And it’s called Cetology and they study the whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Those are the, that’s the best part of marine biology.

Wendy: I’m just saying there’s some weird parts about marine biology. So nicely done. So where are you going to go to study all of that?

Chloe: Um, I’ll be going to UVU for my undergrad and then I will transfer probably either kind of Vancouver area or Oregon.

Wendy: Oh, like, well, that makes sense. Obviously you kind of have to be by an ocean yeah, for that to work. So I love that you’re already planning that you’re going to do undergraduate work at UVU and you already have plans for graduate school. Like this just makes me so happy inside. Like, so what helped you see that you have those anxieties? A traditional school wasn’t really working for you. What helped you see like, that’s okay. Like I’m capable of really incredible things. Like when did that happen? When did that mindset shift happen for you.

Chloe: I think it was definitely when I went in to talk to Adult Education and they were able to offer me like, we have really small classes that you can kind of acclimate yourself to and kind of get used to it, the going to these classes again.

And so being able to like meet the incredible staff they have there and being able to be in the classrooms with like two people was really very nice.

Wendy: You’re like, wow, I’m actually a person and I have a name and you know who I am.

Chloe: Exactly.

Wendy: That’s very cool. Yeah. I love that. So tell me about this transition that’s going to happen to UVU. UVU is a large university, so how are you getting ready for that piece? Of the next leg of your journey, I guess.

Chloe: I think I’m just kind of really trying to put myself more in a lot of populated areas.

Wendy: Good job!

Chloe: Kind of like, just like, okay, you can do it.

Wendy: Right.

Chloe: Yeah, so it’s like kind of acclimating myself to that. And as I go, it’s kind of like a step just. Yeah. It’ll happen and see what goes from there.

Wendy: That’s right. That’s right. Well, and especially because you have a clear focus of what you want to do. And so you’re kind of, I don’t know, I have to do these things. And so that helps UVU also has a lot of supports for new students coming in. Have you explored any of those?

Chloe: Not yet. Okay. I do plan to take a year break gap just to kind of like work and like, cause I was still kind of like, I got all my packets done in such like, close succession to each other. Then I’m like, I need a break.

Wendy: I need a break. That was intense. Good. Do you mind if I ask where you’re working or what your plans are there?

Chloe: Yeah, I work at Treeside Charter School as a first grade aide.

Wendy: Oh my gosh, that’s amazing. Oh, you would be incredible with first graders. Well, and they’ll take you out of your shell right away because they just say whatever.

Chloe: Yeah, they do.

Wendy: They really do. So, okay. So you go to UVU, you go to graduate school. What do you imagine this job or career looking like? What are you hoping to explore and learn?

Chloe: I hope to be more kind of in the field, like with the animals more and like kind of like observing them in their natural environment. I mean, with every science career, you’re going to be in a lab and doing like research and stuff, but I would really like to get out there with them and kind of like swim with them and stuff and just kind of be around them more.

Wendy: And be really directly observing them, not just analyzing data sitting in a lab. I mean, that will probably be some of what you do, right? So yeah, that’s awesome. What are some really great life skills that you feel like you’ve learned over the last few years that you’re like this is really gonna help me as I move to this next phase of my life.

Chloe: Definitely being kind of more analytic with things that I do. It’s kind of like I’ve learned to kind of pick out things that I haven’t been able to do before. I’m like, when I’m reading research papers and stuff, I’m like able to pick out little details.

Wendy: That’s awesome. And you even talk about it with such excitement. Like most students do not talk about like research and reading and you’re like, get giddy about it. I love it. That’s incredible. Okay. Are there other individuals that helped you on this path to getting your diploma that you’re like without this friend or without this person, or did you feel like it was the people at school and you’re just yourself and your own initiative?

Chloe: My parents helped a lot. They’re very, they’re kind of laid back. They kind of let you do what you want, but they’re definitely there being like, Hey, you gotta get this done. But you know, if you don’t do it, okay, I still love you.

Wendy: Yes, that’s good. That’s important, right?

Chloe: They’re very definitely very supportive. They constantly were talking just about like how proud they are of how, how much I’ve like changed in the past year, two years, just kind of like, yeah, and then definitely having my friend Mars, she definitely, she graduated from Timpview a year before me. And so she just constantly giving me advice and like, it’s going to be okay, you can do it. If I did it, you can.

Wendy: Right. So, it also shows that we need these people around us to kind of help, help us. And so, what role could you play to help other people that might be struggling with a traditional school setting or just even sticking it out in their traditional high school? Maybe what advice would you give them or how do you see yourself helping other individuals that are younger than you?

Chloe: I think I’d definitely help them kind of get through school like helping with their assignments because I know that was something that I really wish I had was more help and I definitely like kind of be a support system to them and to constantly tell them that you can do it. It’s very hard, but once you get through it, it’s like a huge reward that you just like you get your diploma and you’re like Yes, I did this.

Wendy: Yes. That’s pretty incredible because it is a lot of work for sure. I love that you see the value of just encouraging others and just that positive self talk, right? It’s really easy for us to beat ourselves up.

Chloe: Yeah.

Wendy: Sometimes you need that other person to have that dialogue.

Chloe: Yeah.

Wendy: To help us do better.

Chloe: There’s definitely some times where it’s like, why can’t I do things like a normal high school student. Because I didn’t have the normal high school experience. So I’m like, why can’t I like be like them and go to like dances and everything? Like, why can’t I have that? Like those friendships and like that fundamental thing that a lot of people talk about having a high school experience. But then I realized that this was the best option for me and I’m very like, there’s no regrets in doing what I did.

Wendy: Oh, that’s the best way to end this.

Chloe: Like no regrets in the way that I did this.

Wendy: That’s incredible. And I do think we just have to recognize that the more we can create different options for kids to be successful. We’re just all about helping kids move to the next step, so. Anything else you would like to share with us?

Chloe: I just really enjoyed my time kind of going through all of this. It’s so fun.

Wendy: I’m excited for you. You just have, you just have like an energy. I’m just really excited to see what you’re going to do.

Chloe: Thank you.

Wendy: So that’s awesome. Thank you so much for being part of it.

Chloe: Yes, this was awesome. Perfect.

Wendy: Thank you everyone for joining me for this week’s episode of What’s Up with the Sup. As always, all episodes will be posted on the district website, YouTube, and anywhere you get your podcasts. If you have any topics or questions you would like us to discuss on the podcast, please email us at podcast@provo.edu.