When they walk across the stage Monday, Kim Kennedy and Eugene and Nicole Henry will share more than a moment of triumph in what has been a tough go.
All three, unknowingly, shared similar experiences as they struggled through high school and beyond.
Likewise, all three came to realize that advancing in life was next to impossible without a diploma — or its equivalent — in hand.
“The day’s not that far off that you’ll need a diploma to flip burgers,” Eugene said.
The Henrys and Kennedy will receive their General Education Development (GED) certification during GED ceremonies at Allen Community College. The 7 p.m. ceremony, in the ACC gymnasium, is open to the public.
Earning a GED is the equivalent of receiving a high school diploma, something none of the three thought possible up until a few short months ago.
All credited the Adult Basic Education staff at ACC for equipping them with the tools, and one-on-one instruction, to help them succeed.
EUGENE Henry admits he was hardly an honor student in high school, but he did well enough in the classroom.
He earned mostly B’s and C’s, certainly a standard high enough to graduate.
Heck, he’d even doubled up his workload in some semesters, to the point that had he dared done a little more, he could have graduated as a junior.
So what happened?
Not long before his senior year, Henry moved with his family, from one rural Missouri school district near Branson to another.
Despite their close proximity, the districts were far enough apart in their curriculums that Eugene was faced with a choice — retake several classes or quit.
“A lot of my credits weren’t going to transfer,” he said. “So I dropped out.”
