Christina Orr, 28, said difficulties in her home life were a major reason for her decision to drop out of school.
Charles Gilliland, 41, chose to work instead of finishing his high school diploma.
Chris Richards, 58, said he was young and just didn’t want to go to school. He said he would rather work than study.
Each non-traditional student at Allen County Community College had personal reasons for not completing high school requirements, but each one also had the same common goal — returning to school to complete requirements for a high school equivalency diploma.
BY THE age of 15, Orr had left her family and was living in her own apartment.
“Life at home wasn’t good,” she said.
She was married by 18, had a child and was then divorced.
Living in Missouri, she grew tired of working in the fast food industry trying to support her family. She realized that to get a better paying job she would have to have a high school diploma.
She had tried to get a general education development diploma in Missouri but found the classes were given in a sterile environment where the teachers were less than enthusiastic to help. After four weeks she once again dropped out.
Two years ago she became engaged to a man from LaHarpe and moved her family to Kansas.
She met Karen Culver, adult education teacher at Allen County Community College, at a program through Social and Rehabilitation Services.
Within a week after starting GED classes at ACCC, Orr said, “I knew this was a program I could succeed at. I knew if I needed help I could call Karen. Support is what makes Allen County’s program a success.”
Orr is also an ACCC student. She has her certified nurse’s aide certificate and is taking classes in psychology and nutrition to earn her certified medical aide certification.
GILLILAND QUIT school his junior year to take a job as a welder. His parents had divorced and he was living in McPherson with his mother.
He said he knew that a high school diploma was required for employment and said he never withheld the information when he applied for a job.
“I learned quickly and became a skilled welder. My employers overlooked the fact that I didn’t have a high school diploma,” he said.
In 2008, he received a neck injury and was unable to work. He and his son, Jesse, 11, moved back to Iola to be near family during his recuperation.
He also learned about Allen County’s GED program through an SRS program.
“I was reluctant to return to school but my son wanted me to complete my education, and Karen is always available in class or by telephone if I have a question about my homework,” he said.
He will need at least one more surgery on his neck before he is released to go back to work.
In the meantime he plans to continue his education at Allen County.
HIGH SCHOOL just wasn’t a fit for Richards.
“I didn’t like going to school so I quit,” he said.
It was through the encouragement of his grown children, who all finished their education, that Richards decided to get his GED.
“It was hard going back to school after 30 years. Classes were harder and it took me longer to fill my requirements for a diploma,” he said.
It has taken Richards two years to complete his GED, but he said, “I didn’t want to disappoint my kids.”
The teachers have been patient and available at any time to help with problems arising from classwork, he said.
Richards doesn’t plan to continue with his education but would like to get back into the work force.
FIFTY-NINE students will be recognized with GED diplomas at Monday’s commencement exercises. Forty of the graduates will be awarded scholarships to continue their education at either Allen County or another community college. This is a total of 68 percent of graduates that received scholarships.
The ACCC program has served a total of 102 participants throughout the year.
Those receiving scholarships are estimated to be in the equivalent of the upper 40 percent of a high school graduating class.
Speakers at the 7:30 p.m. ceremony will be GED recipients, Orr, Christopher Martin and Joshua Hansen. The service will be in ACCC’s gymnasium.
Graduates and their guests will be honored at a reception immediately following commencement in the lobby.
