2003

~ WEEK OF

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ECCC's GED Graduates Ready To 'Take Off' And Begin 'New Lives'

continued from last week

Wylie, a 52-year-old cos– metologist, dropped out of high school 35 years ago to get married. '·You are probably won– dering why someone with a good-paying job would go through such an ordeal (as earning the GED) . When l dropped out of high school. I did not think that education was that important. But education is important. and that's the reason I went back to school to get my GED. There has always been a void in my life because I did not have a high school education, but I never had the motivation to get it until January of this year. As I mentioned earlier, I'm a cosmetologist. J got the idea that I wanted to get my license in another state. Well, I needed a GED certt ficate or di– ploma to get a license in another state. That was my

motivation,'' she re– marked. Watkins said she received a lot of help while study– ing for the GED test, es- . peci all y from her cus– tomers. "While I was doing their hair, we would be solving algebra problems, work– ing on fractions, or what– ever. My goal was to com– plete the GED in one month, and customers and friends kept telling me l could do it and I did," she said. She concluded her re– marks urging thosewho do not have a high school di– ploma to get their GED. "The GED Pr~gram can open doors that otherwise could not be open. You cannot change your past but you can change your future. It does not matter how old you are. I am a grandmother. So there are no excuses," she stated.

Jimmy Dempsey, chief success. You've been en– GED examiner and retired thusiastic or you would ECCC vo-tech counselor, not have been here to– was guest speaker. night, I'm also enthusias– He congratulated the tic about youraccomplish– graduates and briefly dis- ment, and wish you the cussed three topics each best of luck as you con– graduate likely faces in tinue your education," life: adversity, opportunity Dempsey said. and success. For more information re– "You've overcome adver- garding the College's sity and taken advantage Adult Basic Education/ ofan opportunity to better GED Program, contact the yourselves through educa- Office of Adult and Con– ti on. You achteved the tinuing Education, East goal you set, and that is to Central Community Col– receive your GED. You lege, P. 0. Box 129, De– are now enjoying a degree catur, MS 39327, Phone of success but let's keep 635-2111 or call toll free, going.Setyourgoalalittle 1-877-462-3222. The higher. And remember that email address is enthusiasm is the most mdavis@eccc.edu. important ingredient to

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