Michael has lived in Pittsburgh’s East Suburbs for nearly his entire life. Although he attended Woodland Hills from kindergarten to 12th grade, Michael began to have difficulty focusing on schoolwork in his junior and senior years of high school. At the end of his senior year, he was a few credits short of graduating, and while there was a program to help him finish, he wasn’t interested because all his friends were already moving on. eventually dropped out.
Around 2005, Michael’s cousin, Colleen, who worked for what was then Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, encouraged Michael to get his education on track. Michael enrolled in GED preparation classes and earned his high school equivalency shortly afterward.
“I don't think [a GED] necessarily tells you what you know or you don't know, but it at least gives you the key to unlock whatever it is that you want to unlock,” Michael explains.
From there, Michael moved to Florida and worked in restaurants for a while. When he moved back to Pittsburgh, he decided to enroll in nursing school. After 16 months in a fast-track medical education program, Michael secured a job at UPMC Shadyside as a medical-surgical nurse and later joined the IV team.
Beginning in 2019, Michael attended classes to earn his bachelor’s degree, completing it in December 2021. Once he secured this milestone, Michael decided to take an exciting new turn in his journey.
“I decided, why don’t I try law school? So I took the LSAT and did well enough on it to get into Duquesne. So I started at Duquesne Law in August of 2022, and I graduated from there in May. It was a long journey, but worthwhile.”
A fellowship with the Allegheny County Bar Association Foundation led to a part-time internship, and upon graduating and passing the bar exam, to a job with Allegheny County. As an assistant county solicitor, he defends the county’s interests in civil lawsuits.
“My nursing career was a public service kind of job. I like doing those kinds of jobs where you serve the public. It helps you feel like you’re doing something meaningful, something good for the general public at large.”
Michael adds, “I've kind of learned, don't ever close your eyes on an opportunity because you never know. You never know what could present itself tomorrow.”
Literacy Pittsburgh (formerly Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council) helps create better lives through learning. Recognized as a national leader in adult and family literacy, Literacy Pittsburgh is the largest provider of adult basic education in Allegheny and Beaver Counties. Last year, Literacy Pittsburgh helped more than 4,000 individuals acquire the skills needed to reach their fullest potential in life and participate productively in their communities. Literacy Pittsburgh provides free, personalized instruction in workforce readiness, high school diploma test preparation, digital literacy, English language learning, math, reading, and family literacy through one-to-one and small class instruction. Founded in 1982, it serves local adults through numerous neighborhood locations and its Downtown Pittsburgh Learning Center.
