Success not measured by education alone
5/23/2007 4:25:57 PM
How do you measure success? For some it is measured by the job they hold, for others by the number of degrees they have. But for Marion Barrett of Deer Lake success translates into something much simpler – having the means to support her family.
In 2001, at the age of 44, Marion thought it was time to help herself and those closest to her. She enrolled in College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Adult Basic Education (ABE) program.
She says a chance encounter with an ABE poster at a supermarket drastically changed her life.
“It was the first time I considered getting a high school diploma. I thought it was a good opportunity,” Marion says.
Finding the courage to enroll in the program was just one obstacle she had to overcome. She says it was intimidating being the oldest person in class.
“But it is a really good program and it has changed my life. Before I went there I didn’t know how to write a resume or use a computer. Now I can do it all,” she says with a chuckle.
Shy by nature, Marion took a while to open up to her classmates. However, as she began excelling academically she became more outgoing, someone her classmates looked up to.
“She was the person everyone wanted to be around,” recalls ABE instructor Sharon Ball.
Marion finished her general ABE certificate in 2002 and immediately began on an academic certificate. Just a couple of courses shy of her second certificate she accepted an opportunity to begin a cooking career with Jungle Jim’s, where she is still employed today.
Marion still recalls trying to find work without a high school diploma, something that she found impossible to achieve.
“I didn’t have a high school diploma and everywhere you go to get a job, they want you to have a high school diploma,” she says. “So I figured I’d give ABE a try and see if I could do it. It was a great program. The instructors were really good.”
Marion is also honoured the instructors continue to use the notes she developed during the program.
“I used them to help me with my studies – I made them myself and they still use them in the program today. Then I took extra courses.”
And she enjoyed the program so much that she regularly encourages people to attend.
Her daughter, age 21, graduated from the program in 2004, and Marion has inspired a coworker to enroll in the program.
“I would definitely encourage people to take ABE,” Marion says. “There’s a young girl who works with me and I’ve encouraged her to take the program. I told her [it] is not hard and she’s going to look into taking it next year.”
Meanwhile, Ball refers to Marion as her biggest success with ABE.
“Success is not just measured by education. Marion is now contributing to society and to me she has shown the biggest transformation of all my students.,” she says.
Marion recently celebrated her fifth anniversary at Jungle Jim’s and is looking forward to finishing her second certificate.
For more information about the ABE or other programs offered by CNA, log on to www.cna.nl.ca or call 1-888-982-2268.
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For more information contact:
Roger Hulan
Manager of Marketing and Communications
(709) 643-7721