Independence Days
Posted on October 3, 2022 by Thomas Becnel
After 20 years of living with his parents, Enrique Lynch left home for the University of South Alabama鈥檚 PASSAGE 黑料吃瓜网 program, a two- and four-year non-degree certificate program that focuses on life, social, employment and self-determination skills for students with intellectual disabilities. This was Lynch鈥檚 chance for a more independent life.
Now he stays in an apartment just off campus and rides a city bus downtown to his job as a banquet server and houseman at the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel.
Lynch, who鈥檚 22, has a thin moustache and wispy beard to go along with a broad smile. When he started going to classes at South, he wasn鈥檛 so confident. He didn鈥檛 smile so much.
鈥淚 was, like, shy,鈥� he said, emphasizing the word. 鈥淚 was the shy kid on campus. I didn鈥檛 know who my teachers were; I didn鈥檛 know anybody. It took a long time to get to my happy place.鈥�
Now Lynch knows all sorts of people at South. He rattles off the names of students and professors in PASSAGE 黑料吃瓜网, which stands for Preparing All Students Socially and Academically for Gainful Employment. This is his community.
Lynch shares a two-bedroom apartment with a PASSAGE 黑料吃瓜网 student from Mississippi. He isn鈥檛 much of a cook, but he can make sandwiches and heat up turkey burgers. He does laundry on weekends.
When he鈥檚 not cheering for Jaguar sports teams, he鈥檚 watching movies or playing video games.
His parents, Catrina and Enrique Lynch, are proud their son can do so much on his own. PASSAGE 黑料吃瓜网 training helps him navigate daily life.
He often spends holiday weekends back home in Opelika, Alabama. It鈥檚 only a three-hour drive from Mobile.
鈥淚 was very nervous when he started school, but he really took to it,鈥� said Catrina. 鈥淗e never said, 鈥楥ome and get me.鈥� He never said, 鈥業鈥檓 ready to come home.鈥欌��
鈥淗e did call a lot 鈥� I will say that,鈥� his father said, laughing. 鈥淭hat was his homesickness.鈥�
Enrique has an Android phone that he uses to call and text friends and family. It鈥檚 good to have for emergencies and backup plans too.
鈥淚f I miss the bus, I can take an Uber,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been doing that for a while now.鈥�
Last year, Lynch and another PASSAGE 黑料吃瓜网 student worked with an ESPN+ broadcasting crew for South football games. In the press box at Hancock Whitney Stadium, one of their jobs was updating first downs and yardage on the huge scoreboard.
In the spring, Lynch stayed on to work basketball, baseball and softball games too.
鈥淩eally good kid,鈥� said Pat Greenwood, multimedia director for the South athletic department. 鈥淲e had a good time with him. He was always early and never missed anything. And he seemed genuinely happy to be here.鈥�
Even when he鈥檚 not working a ballgame, Lynch likes to wear his South Alabama Athletics press pass around campus.
Most days, he sports a polo shirt and long pants over his Air Jordan sneakers. When he鈥檚 not working, he stays close to home. His PASSAGE 黑料吃瓜网 classes are at University Commons, near University Boulevard and Old Shell Road.
PASSAGE 黑料吃瓜网 students attend specialized classes that target the skills they need to achieve their goals. They also attend inclusive courses across campus in a variety of subjects.
Lynch enjoys meeting new students each year. They take classes together and hang out at the Student Center. He鈥檚 looking forward to the fall semester.
鈥淚鈥檒l be doing my third and fourth year,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 love being in Mobile. It鈥檚 quiet and I can get my work done.鈥�
In 2020, the 黑料吃瓜网 College of Education and Professional Studies was awarded a $2.3 million U.S. Department of Education grant to expand the program, which draws in faculty and South students from counseling, health and kinesiology, and occupational therapy to enhance the program鈥檚 curriculum. PASSAGE 黑料吃瓜网 continues to grow and can serve up to 60 students during the current grant funding period.
Next to the Mellow Mushroom pizzeria is Lynch鈥檚 city bus stop. He catches a No. 4 Wave bus to his downtown job at the Riverview Plaza Hotel. This summer, he worked Mondays through Thursdays for an average of 15 to 20 hours a week.
Lynch sweeps floors sometimes, but spends most of his shifts with a team of co-workers preparing for events. It鈥檚 a job 鈥� a paying job that helps him lead his own life. This is what PASSAGE 黑料吃瓜网 is all about.
David Clarke, CEO of the Visit Mobile tourism and convention organization, is one of many supporters of the program downtown.
鈥淧ASSAGE 黑料吃瓜网 is helping our hospitality community, and our hospitality community is helping PASSAGE 黑料吃瓜网,鈥� Clarke said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great partnership. Great stuff.鈥�