A Life-Changing Education: From a Small Town to Big Possibilities

By Chasity Cornett, MHS Junior

I enrolled at Milton Hershey School on Jan. 15, 2024. My journey started in the Appalachian Mountains, where people admire its fresh air and various trails. Yet, few are aware of families like mine who live in trailers with insects, mice, and broken windows in small towns like Pine Top, Kentucky. That is until I found MHS in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

One night, it started raining. For days, it poured relentlessly, flooding the town. I watched a house slide off a hillside. Several people from my hometown school didn’t survive. My family lost our trailer home to severe water damage, and we were forced to move into FEMA campers—all 12 of us. I was no stranger to change as I moved around a lot growing up. But the change I truly desired was beyond the pieces of the life I was trying to keep together at the time for myself and my family.

I was desperate to get out of the cramped campers and do anything fun, even for just a moment. That’s when we heard about the nearby Family Fun Day hosted by MHS. My mom wasn’t able to spend a lot of money on us kids, so the opportunity to tie-dye a brand new t-shirt that I could keep was perfect in so many ways. What I didn’t know was how that t-shirt would become the instrument that led me to learn about a school that would forever change my life.

After meeting with several students and MHS Admissions Counselor Sara White at that event, I knew I would attend MHS someday. I just had this gut feeling that it would happen, and I was going to do everything I could to make sure it did. I spent that entire night going through the online application process. I helped my mom gather and submit every piece of paperwork needed. I followed up with my school constantly to ensure they sent my transcripts over. Once my mom was on board with me attending MHS, I took the initiative because there was a promise of opportunity too great for me to miss. MHS represented more than just an education—it was my chance to build a future where I could break the cycle of poverty and pursue something amazing.

I just don’t want to have such a small life, considering I come from such a small place. I know I have a future ahead of me.

I find myself more grateful each day for what MHS has done for me. Back home, my bed was a wooden board with carpet-like material over it. I had to walk to public bathhouses to shower and use the restroom. My family never had central air, and I spent much of my days cleaning and taking care of my siblings. Here, I’m never without anything I need. I am always supported by my houseparents, celebrated for who I am, and recognized for my successes. The unique journeys that brought me and my housemates in our student home to MHS have created a bond that connects us all. And every morning, I wake up in a real bed—something I will never take for granted.

I am eager to make the most of the opportunities MHS has given me. Serving as a student home president in the Student Government Association (SGA), a student ambassador, and working closely with new students are just a few of the rewarding roles I get to make a positive impact in. My teachers are also so supportive of me and encourage me to branch out and try new things. I’m currently applying for the S.C.O.P.E. program at Penn State Health, which will allow me to pursue college courses while still in high school.

I hope to build a career in either business or movie production and plan to do so by connecting with MHS alumni who have already found success in these fields. They are accomplishing the very goals I hope to achieve, and our shared MHS stories make me even more motivated to learn from them.

I don’t know where I would be today if the Family Fun Day didn’t happen when it did. It became the beginning of something undeniably transformative in my life. I can’t wait for my graduation day when my two worlds will collide for an unforgettable moment. The world of my blood family, who raised me, and the world of my MHS family, who built upon that foundation and helped me become who I am today. They will watch as I take my first steps into adulthood, congratulating me on achievements they played a significant role in making possible. I hope that when I walk across the stage, it inspires my siblings and others to dream bigger than the small town that might surround them. I want them to see how far I’ve come and know, without a doubt, that anything is possible.

What Whole Child Care Means to Our Students:

Whole child care is the foundation upon which Milton Hershey School helps students thrive each day. Here’s how the professionals behind this care are raising the bar to ensure all students are supported to feel their best.

Providing for Daily Needs: Through the generosity of our founders, Milton and Catherine Hershey, we ensure students have access to essential needs—such as clothing, food, and personal hygiene products—with all costs covered. Students receive a full wardrobe of clothing at the Clothing Center, where MHS staff manage the inventory by ordering items six months in advance based on past usage. Culinary professionals prepare meals throughout the week, continuously innovating new recipes to keep our students nourished while expanding their palates. Each school year, a fleet of 10 trucks and 25 drivers deliver 7,000 personal hygiene and household products and other essentials to student homes across campus, seamlessly managing and coordinating all the logistics involved.
Psychological Support: Milton Hershey School’s Psychological Services team is dedicated to helping each student achieve happiness and success. As part of an integrated approach to health care, they ensure that when a student needs a nurse, psychiatrist, or nutritionist, everyone is just a phone call away—all tied to the same mission. These credentialed experts assist students in many ways, but their greatest impact often comes from showing up for students beyond the office and encouraging them in their passions and pursuits.
Mentorship: Now in its eleventh year, the Mentoring Our Leaders’ Development (M.O.L.D.) program pairs Middle and Senior Division students with adult mentors to foster meaningful relationships that support personal growth. The goal is for these connections to extend beyond MHS, providing lasting guidance so students feel empowered to thrive in all aspects of life. Currently, 45 Middle Division mentees are paired with 30 mentors, and 566 Senior Division mentees are matched with 292 mentors.

Learn More about Whole Child Care