A Nova Scotia lady who failed highschool by 4 factors has returned to get her diploma — twenty years later.
Tracy MacDonald mentioned she labored onerous at highschool as an adolescent, however had an unstable residence state of affairs that precipitated her to wrestle academically.
“After I was 16, my mom left a be aware and informed me she did not need no a part of me, for me to go reside with my father. At that time, my father was a little bit of an alcoholic, so I knew it wasn’t one of the best state of affairs for me,” MacDonald says.
She received a lawyer and ’emancipated’ herself, a authorized time period that means the teen was now not the duty of her mother and father.
She completed highschool and thought she would obtain a diploma, however later came upon she had 46 per cent in English, a failing grade, and could not graduate. She moved on together with her life, however by no means forgot about highschool.
“I considered it on a regular basis. I’ve at all times needed to have my Grade 12. ‘Perhaps I will return,'” she says.
However the time was by no means proper. She is a lone guardian to 5 kids, together with 4 younger ones at residence, and has labored at all types of jobs to pay the payments: a lobster boat, Tim Hortons and a name centre.
Many challenges
She did not like how the off-hours saved her away from her kids after their faculty day, after which she misplaced her little one care.
“At that time I needed to depart my job so I may deal with my kids…. And the one different choice was for me to go to highschool to attempt to additional my training so I may get into school so I might be extra than simply nothing.”
MacDonald enrolled on the Queens Grownup Excessive College in Liverpool, N.S., and has spent the final yr incomes that lacking English credit score. She gained a Literacy Nova Scotia bursary within the course of.
Sonya Eddy has been her trainer and says MacDonald’s story is uplifting.
“She’s the proper position mannequin as a result of she has each purpose to not come again, however she comes again anyway, and she or he has this nice success. And I see numerous potential in her. I believe that she’s a scholar that needs to be telling her story to different adults and inspiring them, as a result of it is inspirational to listen to,” Eddy says.
MacDonald earned her lacking English credit score and graduated in June. She hopes to check to grow to be a trainer’s assistant — and sometime a trainer. She already works instead assistant at Queens Center College.
“And it is wonderful and I really like serving to the kids. They’re good youngsters. A few of them need assistance, just a little bit extra so than others, however that is what my job is for.”
MacDonald can also be writing a guide about her life, and hopes to publish it to encourage different folks to be taught it is by no means too late to get an training. “I am very happy with myself, as a result of I’ve come a great distance. I am excited. I can not wait.”
