Scholar Spotlight: Shelby Myers
Some people just exude extreme positivity, even amid challenges and setbacks. A brief encounter with Chatfield Scholar Shelby Myers leaves most people with renewed energy for life and their own challenges pulled into perspective. Her journey has not been smooth but that has not stopped Shelby from literally putting one foot in front of the other to move closer to her dreams.
Shelby was born and raised near Youngstown, Ohio, and moved four hours from home in 2022 to attend the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Her high school art teacher gave her the confidence to take that leap. “She really made me feel like I was seen,” Shelby reflected. “She encouraged me to dive in without fear.”
A year later, Shelby decided art school was not the right fit, so she took time off to consider next steps. During that time, her uncle, a father-figure in her life, died tragically in a car accident. Just before his death, Shelby shared her dreams of working in healthcare with her uncle, who she described as “an unhinged spirit with whom I could have down to earth conversations!” In that last conversation, her uncle encouraged her to put her fears aside and pursue her passion for working in healthcare.
Her uncle’s death led Shelby into profound grief and the need to reach within herself to move forward. “I decided that I could get caught up in that grief or get up and face it,” she said.
For the next six months, Shelby walked – every day – to keep her anxiety at bay. Through that process, she lost 50 pounds and began to gain confidence in herself. A friend who had also left art school at the same time, Nicole Nantz, was connected to The Chatfield Edge and encouraged Shelby to do the same.
“I was scared because I was working two jobs to support myself, didn’t have finances for school, and really didn’t know where to start,” she said. “When I met with David Hesson, he was able to help me look at different options within healthcare and helped me think about different routes I could take to get there. Just when I thought doors were closing, they began to open.”
With financial support and mentoring from The Chatfield Edge, Shelby enrolled in a State Tested Nurse Aide certificate program at Cincinnati State. In November 2024, while working as an assistant in a retirement community, Shelby earned that credential. She plans to work for the next nine months and will then decide if she wants to pursue dietetics or nursing.
“I have been personally blessed with an opportunity to start my career because of The Chatfield Edge. The financial support I received took a big weight off my chest and David’s support and his experience working with other students like me gave me the confidence to move forward without fear.”
We are grateful that Shelby reached out to The Chatfield Edge when she needed guidance and resources to confidently step into her future. It was a privilege to work with her as she pursued her STNA certification, and we are looking forward to supporting her when she is ready to take the next step.
If you are ready to start your educational journey but have fears and challenges like Shelby did, we encourage you to reach out to us today on our website (chatfieldedge.org) or by calling us at 513-875-3344. We look forward to bringing you into our Chatfield community!
