A Guyanese woman and her son graduated from high school in the USA together last week, receiving their diplomas on Saturday at the graduation of the Adult & Career Education at the Harborside Event Centre in Fort Myers, Florida.
According to a Winknews.com report, 46-year-old Catherine Rice, whose education stopped when she was in the fourth grade, and her 20-year-old son Chris graduated together.
“When I was 11 years old, they decided to pull me out of school because we were too poor,” the woman told the news agency.
Born in an impoverished town in Guyana, she said she was forced to work on the family’s farm.
“I had a dream in my heart that someday I’d go back to school, I had that hope,” she stated.
Thirty-five years later, Catherine’s dream finally came true. She’s now married, and living in Lehigh Acres. After learning about Lee County’s Adult & Career Education programme, she jumped at the opportunity and inspired her son along the way. Her son Chris had dropped out of high school as a freshman, after struggling in school. He joined the GED programme alongside his mother.
“She was actually doing it, succeeding at it. She’s brilliant, just massively brilliant. I realized, I needed to do it,” Chris Rice said
“We both studied at Dunbar Community School,” Chris Rice said. “At first it was very difficult. I was very embarrassed to be studying with my mother, but eventually I got over it, and it really became a great inspiration for both us,” Chris was quoted in another news report in news-press.com as saying.
But her success didn’t come easily. Catherine took years to complete her full course load.
“I could remember one time taking my book and saying, ‘God, I don’t know if I can do this. But I still have a dream and I don’t want to give up on it,’” Catherine Rice said.
Despite the challenges, the mother and son finally achieved their dream – walking the stage together.
Catherine credits courage and focus for finally landing her that coveted diploma.
“Don’t be afraid. And even if you are afraid, take that first step,” she smiled.
Catherine is already pursuing her college education at Edison State College. She hopes to become a social worker upon graduation. Her son, Chris, also plans to enrol at Edison State College soon.
