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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

8th Annual MCC Scholars' Day to Highlight the Best of Our Students


There’s something for everyone at MCC’s Annual Scholars’ Day. On Saturday, April 23, 10am – 3pm, 69 students sponsored by 21 MCC faculty members will celebrate the innovation, creativity and academic excellence that thrives here. With presentations ranging from the highly technical to the intensely thoughtful, Keidai (Eric) Lee’s topic sits securely in the latter spectrum.

“Why the Caged Bird Sang: Understanding Resilience and Child Abuse” will examine the strength of survivors who choose to walk away from abusive patterns. Sponsored by psychology faculty member Mary Beth Wilson, this presentation will apply scientific literature on resilience and post-traumatic growth to adult survivor interviews. Eric’s efforts will also involve researching the literary works of author, poet, civil rights activist and child abuse survivor Maya Angelou.

Eric, a Rush-Henrietta High School graduate, is graduating from MCC this June and will pursue a bachelor’s in community engagement. His career choice was not an easy decision. “The people around me – the teachers, the librarians and advisors – they didn’t know what to do with me,” he said. “I was asking, “Who am I?” “Why do I exist? I wanted to use all my gifts but everything I considered felt like a life sentence.”

Two books helped clarify his direction: “Refuse to Choose” by Barbara Sher and “Where You Go is Not Who You’ll Be” by Frank Bruni. “I’m a work in progress,” says Eric. “but it feels wonderful to have found my direction. I’ve finally realized that happiness is something that walks with you and not something you walk to. I figured that out here.”


Keidai (Eric) Lee will present "Why the Caged Bird Sang: Understanding Resilience and Child Abuse" on Scholars' Day.

Janet Ekis
Marketing and Community Relations
04/12/2016