As the first graduate of Bethel Christian Academy, Tisha Sexton feels she may never have achieved the life she has now without the experiences and opportunities Bethel offered her. “I owe who I am today to them. Without their influence, my life would have taken a vastly different path,” Tisha explained.
Tisha was referred to Bethel by a local case manager who was helping her mother, as she was unable to care for her children due to a life of alcoholism and homelessness. Tisha’s own life had been inundated with an unstable home life scarred by physical, mental, and emotional abuse. Entering the tenth grade when she came to Bethel, Tisha also had an unexpected obstacle on top of being a student. She became a mother. Once she had her baby, Tisha continued classes with the help of her house parents, teachers, and tutors. In 2012, Tisha graduated from Bethel Christian Academy and transferred to independent living with her daughter. “I know 100% that I would not have graduated without Bethel.” Tisha expressed.
After attending college at Chattanooga State Community College, Tisha accepted a job as a fabricator at Astec Industries, where she continues to build her career. As an entrepreneur, starting her first online clothing business in 2018, Tisha has also started small businesses for each of her two children. “I am aiming for generational wealth to break generational curses, something I was never taught,” Tisha explained. Along with her success at Astec Industries, Tisha plans to pursue college once again to study psychology.
In her years after living at Bethel, Tisha has continued to pursue a better life for herself and her family. When remembering her arrival at Bethel, she speaks with gratitude, saying “It took me a few weeks to adjust and feel comfortable. Yet, if given the chance, I would choose to go through it all over again. Bethel became my family and my support.”