2010

'Be all that you can be

Special to The Star

TiffanyRushingwas in the 11th gradewhen she dropped out of high school in 1999. Rushing knew leaving school was a mistake, but she kept putting off the decision to return to the classroom- until she recently enrolled in GED (General Educational Development) classes offered by East Central Community College. Rushing, now 29, was among 70 students who recently received their high school equivalency diplomas from ECCC Pres– ident Dr. Phil A Sutphin at the 2010 GED Graduation held on the Decatur campus. Not only was the Union resident one of the proud graduates, she was also one of three students who provided testimonials. During her remarks, Rushing recalled her strug– gles after becoming a high school dropout "Just like many of you, I felt so incomplete,"Rushing stated before a packed audi– ence in HuffAuditorium. "I wanted more for my educa– tion but time after time I stuck it (returning to school) on the back burner." Rushing said one night while she slept, "it all came to me like a shooting star." "I knew I could do better for myself ... so I got busy and made the first step that put me back on the path that God had for me," she explained. "I enrolled in the GED program hereatEC." Rushing said she soon realized she could achieve her goal, thanks to the support and encouragement from her instructors and family. "Mrs. (Mary) Burt, Mr. (Bryan) Burt and Mr. (Ed) McGowan had so much confi– dence in me that I knew I could do all things through Christ who strengthened me," she said. "Thanks also to my wonderful husband and children for their help and inspiration." Rushing, who plans to con– tinue her education in the near future, challenged others who do not have a high school

Submitted photo

GED graduates, from left, Tiffany Rushing of Un1on, Jean Brown of Collinsville and Angela Cage of Conehatta provided testimonials at the annual commencement held recently at East Central Community College in Decatur. education to take the next step. "As I speak to you (tonight),let's focus on the following thought "Be all that eighth grader and soon began a family while living in Lake City, Fla. "I became a mother at age

WANT TO KNOW MORE? For more information on the College's ABE/GED Program, contact Ryan Clarke, director of adult basic education, (601) 635-2111 or call toll free, (877)462-3222 ext 387 County Career-Technical Center and soon her "dream" was realized. "Now I stand here at age 42 as aGED graduate!" she exclaimed. 'Thanks to my teachers, Mrs. (Susan) Hisaw and Mrs. Oune) Fulton, my dreams are coming true. I will start classes at ECCC in August with hopes of pur– suing a degree in culinary arts technology." Brown, who also expressed appreciation to family members for their support, encouraged others in need of a GED to enroll in classes "and have your dreams come true, too." • Angela Cage, 41, of Cone– hatta, was the third speaker and recalled how she dropped out of school as a 1&-year-old

18, and over the next few years had three more chil– dren," Cage said. "I realized at that point going back to school was not going to be possible. School was the last thing on my mind -my family was first." But Cage changed her atti– tude about getting an educa– tion when she moved to Newton County in February. "When asked about going back to school, I then realized howmuch I wanted and needed my education,· she recalled. WSo I decided at age 41 to get myGED. And now two months after my middle son's graduation from high school, I can stand here before you as a 2010GED graduate!" During her remarks, Cage also expressed appreciation to Frances Edwards andMarion Thornton "who have always believed in me and told me that I can accomplish my goals," she said. She also thanked ECCC and the GED instructors "for all their help

you can you be- by going back to school and getting yourGED!" Jean Brown, a resident of the House community in Neshoba County, also pro– vided a testimonial. Brown, who dropped out of school while an eighth grader in 1982, has three grown children and four grandchildren. She said watching her children receive their high school diplomas provided the inspi– ration she needed to return to the classroom. "I rememberwatching with pride as each one received a diploma," she remarked. "I thought to myself, 'someday I will do that 1 But the older I got, the more I thought, 'Noway, I'm too old ... And howcan it help me any way?' Then I realized that the only one standing in my way- was me!" Brown began taking GED classes provided by ECCC at the Philadelphia/Neshoba