Georgia Graham
“Everybody is somebody,” says Georgia Graham. “What you go through and learn in life, you teach to others.” Georgia has overcome many life challenges and now works to break the repetitive generational cycle of lack of education leading to lack of options. Her message includes giving recognition to God, determining your goal and staying focused on achieving that goal.
Georgia loved school but didn't have motivation at home to go to college. Her dad had only an 8th grade education, but he taught her that you have to work hard for what you get. With marriage, any thoughts of college ended. She worked in a shirt factory for years until “finally I just decided there's got to be a better way.” Encouraged by her pastor to get an education, Georgia began exploring her options. “I kept seeing advertisements for James Sprunt Community College, so one day I pulled into the parking lot and found my way to Student Support Services. That's where I discovered a support system that could help me get through school.
Georgia entered JSCC as a single mother with a full-time job. In fact, she and her children often compared report cards. She proved to be a good role model for her four children, with one son graduating with a master's degree, and one daughter graduating with a teaching degree this year. At first, she needed to take remedial classes to get up to speed, but she continued to overcome, and in 1997 she received her Associates Degree in General Education. Georgia continues to work toward her four-year degree.
Since then she has passed on her life lessons to others to offer hope and encouragement, and to break the cycle of young people repeating the same mistakes as their parents. “We need to break the cycle. We need to make ourselves available to others, which makes a difference in people's lives. Everybody is somebody.”
Find out more about James Sprunt Community College
See More Success Stories
Last modified:
Tuesday, September 01, 2009 08:40:04 AM
This page maintained by the webmaster.