Adult education grads show perseverance in getting their diploma

Glen Wabasse and Amy Manning were two of many Aboriginal graduates who received their high school diploma on Thursday, June 13 at the Embassy Ballroom at the Victoria Inn in Thunder Bay.
Wabasse and Manning were students at the Lakehead Adult Education Centre. Other graduates included 16 Sandy Lake First Nation members who were attending the distance education program that the centre offers.
Wabasse, who is from Webequie First Nation, moved to Thunder Bay in 2012 when he decided to go back to school to earn his high school diploma.
“I dropped out in the early 1900’s. Just kidding,” he laughed. “It was in the early 1990’s.”
Wabasse explained that he did some upgrading in the year 2000. “I did some distance programs with WAHSA back on my reserve. I was left with two and a half credits to complete. I was working for a long time and I didn’t really have a chance to complete the two credits.”
While in Thunder Bay, Wabasse enrolled in the Lakehead Adult Education program to obtain the remaining two credits he needed for his high school diploma.
“I found it easier now than before when I was first in high school,” Wabasse said of his experience at the school. “When I was in high school before, I thought English was my worst subject. I am more mature, I guess. That’s probably why I am better at English now.”
Manning, a Couchiching First Nation member, said that she stopped going to school after the first semester of Grade 9.
“I only got four credits when I was first in school. So I pretty much needed all of them when I came here,” Manning said. She explained that she dropped out because she did not have a stable home to live in back in Fort Frances, where she first attempted secondary education.
She now has two young boys, the oldest who is turning three at the end of June.
“I’ve been a student (of the Lakehead Adult Education program) since I was pregnant with my oldest son,” Manning explained.
She said that she did not find it hard to complete her assignments while having two little ones at home.
“It wasn’t really difficult,” she said. “It was really flexible, we could take our books home. I usually did my work when they (my kids) were down for naps or after they were sleeping at night.”
Manning said that the program allowed her to do her work independently at home as opposed to having to be at a place at a scheduled time. Manning’s family also helped her by watching her children so she could finish her work. Her family was there with her at the graduation to show their support.
She said that it was important to have a lot of support when going back to school.
Now that she is done, Manning plans on attending Confederation College this fall for some upgrading, and then will apply to the college’s welding program in 2014.
Wabasse has also applied to Confederation College.
“I will be studying environmental technology in the fall,” he said. “I am not really nervous, it feels different now than when I was a teenager. Since I am an adult now, it’s easier.”
Lakehead Adult Education Centre offers co-op, e-learning, independent study, and attendance-based classes.
“Lakehead is committed to providing quality education opportunities to all students, regardless of age,” Daniel Denomme, media contact person of Lakehead Adult Education Centre, said.
“I would encourage anyone to go back to school,” Wabasse said. “It doesn’t matter how old you are.”