Student Spotlight: Angela Livingston
We were already working on a feature about Pittsburgh-based student Angela Livingston when she shared this letter about her PGP tutor, Max Raven. Max and Angela began their tutoring relationship while Max was a student in the U.S. He returned to his native England after graduating and they continue to work together via Zoom. Instead of us writing about Angela, we wanted to feature Angela in her own words. We’re incredibly proud of Angela’s hard work and progress in the two years she has worked with tutors Max and Jordan, and we’re honored to support her educational journey.
Hello, my name is Angela Livingston. I am a survivor of cancer, domestic abuse and child abuse. I’ve survived the prison system, being locked in institutions, drugs, alcohol, and loss. I tell you this not for you to feel sorry for me, but so you understand who I am and why I am passionate about achieving my goals.
My wake-up call came on May 20, 2020, when I started hemorrhaging after my lung cancer surgery. I survived. The doctor said he couldn’t explain it.
That is when I realized that it is time to make a legacy for myself; it is time to accomplish my dreams and goals. I want to help women like me, women who have survived life. I put together a series of goals, most importantly: To become a therapist and start an organization to teach women and families experiencing domestic violence how to train rescue dogs that they can adopt to help them feel safe. What drove me is that I have the same experiences these women have endured, because I was once there.
But I needed an education to even get started. I had taken quite a few college classes before, but never graduated.
This was when I decided to go back to school for my business degree. After months of searching, I found that Southern New Hampshire University accepted most of my credits, so I enrolled to pursue my associate’s degree. But before I started classes, I needed a plan and I needed support to get me through. This is when I connected with the Petey Greene Program, with help from Literacy Pittsburgh.
My first tutor, Jordan, was awesome. She helped me in accounting. I had a D and I left that class with a B because of Jordan—we worked together for a few months.
Max is my second tutor through the Petey Greene Program, and I just love him for his commitment to me and my studies. When I met Max, I was failing statistics and macroeconomics. Day one, Max was emailing my professors to see how we could save one course or another, and we did it, just as he said we would.
Max never gave up on me, even when I did. Max makes learning fun. He lives in England now, and sometimes we just chat about England, the foods, traditions, and American dishes as well. One lesson I had to ask Max “How many cups of tea do you drink a day?” because his mum always had his tea ready, and I thought that was the sweetest thing.
Max has a supportive method to his tutoring sessions. In the beginning, my papers were horrible, but Max never got tired of helping to improve my writing. A few weeks ago, Max pulled up a paper I wrote when we first started working together. He then showed me a recent paper and put them side by side—I cried because the difference in my writing from then to now is amazing.
I thank God for Max every day. He is my godsend and because of the faith Max had in me, he has helped me towards making my dreams come true.
Max’s confidence in me gave me hope, drive and the realization that I could do this.
I will be continuing my education with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, which will help me make my dream come true: Starting an organization to rescue dogs and train them for families experiencing domestic violence.
“Without Max and the Petey Greene Program I would not be taking these steps towards success.....Thank you, Max, for your positive influence and most of all: Never giving up on me. Thank you for believing in ME!!!!!!”
In the end, the lesson I have learned is that no matter how many times you fall, with strength and courage you can get up, make changes, and avoid repeating those same mistakes.
I am like the flower ‘Lily of the Valley’; Despite darkness, a flower that still blooms. This is who I am, and Max and the Petey Greene Program have given me the tools I need to blossom.