Editor’s Note: The Turning Point Invitational, to be held Aug. 25 at the Country Club of Detroit in Grosse Pointe Farms, aims to raise $1 million to help local students, in pre-K through 12th grade, attend Cornerstone Schools in Detroit.
Cornerstone student Myles Turner discusses the impact the school has had on his life, both personally and academically.
Life presents you with a lot of people. Some of the most important, supportive people are your family. While your biological family is great, you sometimes inherit another group of people that also support you and do whatever they can to help you succeed. For me, that group of people is my family at Cornerstone.
Cornerstone is more than a school. It is a rock solid foundation that each of its students and faculty proudly stand on. It is a symbol of all the fruits of the spirit and largely impacts each individual and family that has the privilege to be a part of its system. From the excellent education it provides to the real-world experience it gives to its students through internships, Cornerstone helps build outstanding citizens and world-class leaders.
I’ve been at Cornerstone since ninth grade, and within only three years, it has already made me a more intellectual being. With its rigorous curriculum, I was challenged every step of the way. At first, I felt as if it was too much. Now as I look back, I realize that I wouldn’t be at the level at which I am today. Cornerstone truly prepares a child for their future, and for me, that future is college. I’ve never felt more prepared for college as I am today thanks to Cornerstone. Even when I felt as if I wouldn’t make it, my teachers and administrators were always there, encouraging me and giving me guidance to ensure that I succeeded. Never have I had teachers and staff who continuously sacrificed their time and money to pour into me or any other student. That is yet another factor that separates Cornerstone from any other school.
Another unique characteristic of Cornerstone is its ability to provide its students with real-world experiences. One example is “CEO Saturday.” On two Saturdays of each month, a CEO or executive of some sort speaks to us and tells us how they climbed to the top of the corporate ladder. They give us practical advice on how to excel in high school and college. They then teach us how to have a successful career. Receiving advice from someone who has already been in our shoes and did things the right way is quite inspiring.
Another source of our real-world experience comes from our visits to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra concerts every other month. Seeing a live orchestra perform is something extraordinary and is something that we wouldn’t usually do on our own. Going to these concerts expand our musical knowledge, gives us a taste of an unfamiliar culture, and is simply fun
Last, but definitely not least, we get undeniably exceptional experience from our internships. Each student of Cornerstone Leadership and Business High School takes part in an internship, which best fits the student and his/her career aspirations. My internship is at Plante Moran, an accounting firm in Southfield, and I enjoy every minute of it. I’ve learned everything from how to balance bills to mastering the art of time management. I have had the opportunity to network with some very successful people and I’ve taken full advantage of it. My coworkers at Plante Moran are an entirely different family. They also support me through everything and let me know that they care on a daily basis.
Recently, I lost my mother, and it was (and still is) the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through. When my school and my internship found out, they were both beyond supportive. I received constant phone calls, texts, cards, and gifts from them. I know for a fact that without all of the support I had, I wouldn’t be as happy and strong as I am right now.
So as you can see, Cornerstone is more than anyone can ask for in a school. Its academic curriculum is phenomenal. The teachers and staff are exceptional and are there for the students 24/7. We students receive so many real-world experiences and our cultural knowledge is always expanding. Cornerstone is more than a school; it is an unblemished brand. Without a doubt, I am proud to be known as a student of Cornerstone Schools.
For more information about the Turning Point Invitational, visit cornerstoneschools.org. To order gallery passes, which are $500 each or $800 for two, call 313-368-8580 or email nicole.white@cornerstoneschools.org.
