Student Spotlight
Corbin Moorer, MAGIC Alumni, April 2020 Graduate | Bachelor in Business Administration in Management - College of Business
Corbin Moorer, MAGIC Alumni, April 2020 Graduate | Bachelor in Business Administration in Management - College of Business
For many students coming to college from the foster care system, a supportive community is crucial to their success. The Mentorship, Access, and Guidance in College (MAGIC) program exists to increase the graduation rates among students who have experienced foster care by removing barriers that interfere with academic success and the process of becoming an interdependent adult. It can be a life-changing program for students like recent graduate Corbin Moorer.
Moorer was one of seven siblings, and by age 11 he took on the responsibility of changing diapers, entertaining the family, and getting dinner on the table. Throughout middle school and high school, Moorer turned to sports as an outlet for his difficult life at home.
“It was an escape from my problems that occurred earlier in life,” Moorer explained. “However, that still didn’t allow me to trust other people. I was a very stick-to-myself person.”
During Moorer’s junior year, the thought of going to college became more of a reality. He had aspirations to play football in college, however, an injury took that opportunity from him. Once senior year came around, Eastern Michigan University became his top choice.
“Even though I knew sports wasn’t an option, I was still excited because of Eastern’s location and prestigious business school!” Moorer said.
A few weeks before the semester started, Moorer received an email from a MAGIC graduate assistant. The email invited him into the MAGIC office to talk more about his goals and how the program could assist him.
“Little did I know that this was the best thing that could’ve happened to me,” Moorer shared. “When I got into the office, I was blown away by how nice everyone was to me. I was still extremely shy and didn’t trust people at the time but this felt like a place where I could find myself and become a better person.”
MAGIC is there to support all students, whether it be academically or emotionally. The workshops and mentors allow students to find a community and have a space on campus where they truly belong. Moorer praised his mentors Joi, Denise, and Le’Shay, saying they were vital in his success on campus.
“I owe a lot of who I am today to her [Le’Shay],” Moorer explained. “Shay and I have formed a great connection.”
As one of the MAGIC program’s newest alumni, Moorer stresses the importance of the program and how life-changing his experiences were. He now holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, and will be pursuing a Master of Science degree in Integrated Marketing Communication in the fall.
“If you asked me as an incoming freshman what I wanted with my education, I would have never believed this would be the path I would take,” Moorer said. “I can’t thank the MAGIC program enough for helping me find my way through this stage of my life. I plan to give back in any way I can because this program will always have a special place in my heart.”
If you feel inspired to help students like Corbin Moorer, who have experienced foster care, find a place to call home and obtain their college degree, please visit the MAGIC webpage or donate on EMU’s giving portal.