Studying and practicing daily, he completed most of his homework assignments via the computer, used the Internet for personal areas of interest, research related to his studies and chatting with others across the nation. In August 1996, he passed the GED and in September of that year enrolled in the local community college. He took one course a semester majoring in computers and architectural design with the intent of becoming a graphic artist.

He is currently taking Multimedia and Web Design at an art institute. Engaged, and living on his own, John looks forward to finishing school, having a good job, and owning a van so that he can drive himself everywhere he wants to go. To be successful, he says:

Follow the dreams you believe in, the things you really want to do and don’t let anybody take that away from you... I never gave up and even though this happened to me, I can still show people that I can do things like continuing my education and have a family.

Pamela’s Story

Pamela, like many adult education students, got married at 16 years of age, had a baby, dropped out of school and moved away from home. Soon she was a single mother on welfare raising two sons. She prayed and kept her faith but gradually went from cigarettes and beer to crack cocaine. After 22 years as a drug addict, Pam made up her mind to kick her habit, obtain a GED and get off welfare. Within four years, she accomplished all three goals.

In November 1991, just six months into her own recovery, she opened her home to women who needed a place to stay. This grew into a residential program for women recovering from drug addiction. In November 1992, she enrolled in a literacy center and in July 1994, attained her GED. Her leadership qualities earned her a 10-hour-a-week job as a center coordinator to which she added a 30-hour-a week job as a teacher’s aide for a nontraditional women’s program. Now married, a part time student at a community college, and a volunteer in the behavioral health and social work area, she helps people hands-on. Her latest assignment was working with an autistic 18-year old that didn’t speak, didn’t participate in class and just sat there all day. As Pam explained:

I worked with him for two months. Now he sharpens his pencil. He attempts to write his name. He can spell his name. He can identify his name tags. He goes to the bathroom and he smiles... I’m real happy about that because I don’t have the formal training. I just love people.

Taken together, these stories illustrate the variety of participants that inhabit adult education programs as well as the range of the programs themselves. Conversely, there are similar participant characteristics and program practices the reader will meet again and again in the following chapters. These five participants have summoned the courage to overcome disastrous circumstances that would have defeated many individuals without educational deficiencies. The extent to which Success Stories recipients have accomplished their objectives, large and small, is exceeded only by the new dreams they’ve dared to conceive, the new paths they’ve chosen to follow.

Participant Risk Factors

At the time of enrollment, 24 of the 49 female participants were single mothers, recent widows, divorcés or women preparing to leave abusive husbands or homes. Laurie, now successful businesswomen, left home at 15 years of age fleeing an alcoholic father who was becoming more and more violent. In 1982, she took her younger brother into her home when he faced the same situation. Three men and 25 women were receiving public assistance, SST/SSD or food stamps at the time of enrollment. One man was homeless, and six individuals had met and conquered addiction problems. Veronica, now a GED teacher for a church-sponsored community-based organization, describes her problem and her choice: