Student Spotlight: Zoey
May 07 2026
What does it take to go from nervous to ready? For Zoey, it started with one decision. Read how she earned her HSE and found her path to a future in baking.
Some people show up once. Brendan has been showing up since 1997.
Nearly three decades ago, Brendan learned about The Literacy Alliance through his employer, who was encouraging staff to explore volunteer opportunities around the city. He took them up on it, and he never stopped.
For Brendan, the most rewarding part of volunteering is witnessing the perseverance of TLA students. “It is really inspiring to experience the perseverance that many students have demonstrated to complete their HSE while juggling the many other demands going on in their lives,” he says. Seeing a student graduate, especially one he may have helped work through a tough concept, is what keeps him coming back.
Over the years, TLA has taught him a few things too. “There is always room for improvement,” he reflects. “Patience is certainly a virtue, and you can never be too good a listener.”
When he’s not volunteering, Brendan is usually reading. He picks up a book most nights, gravitating toward fiction but mixing in nonfiction to foster personal growth. He’s also a regular at the Allen County Public Library.
Asked what he’d say to someone thinking about getting involved, Brendan doesn’t hesitate: “What is stopping you?”
We couldn’t agree more. Thank you, Brendan, for 28 years of making a difference, one student at a time.