Adult Collegiate grads on road to success
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Winnipeg Free Press subscription for only
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*$1 will be added to your next bill. After your 4 weeks access is complete your rate will increase by $4.99 a X percent off the regular rate.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/06/2012 (4832 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
When Jonathon Van der Raadt was 15 years old, he dropped out of high school because of conflict within his family. He then had to work full time in order to keep a roof over his head and had all but given up on pursuing an education.
“At the start of this year I didn’t have any confidence in myself whatsoever. I hadn’t been in school for over 10 years. I had worked some pretty bad jobs and life wasn’t working out so well.”
On Saturday afternoon, Van der Raadt, now 25, along with 52 other adults, received high school diplomas from Assiniboine Community College at a ceremony at McDiarmid Drive Alliance Church.
Next fall, Van der Raadt is going to Brandon University to begin a bachelor of science.
Van der Raadt said he moved to Brandon from Saskatoon because of the dual-credit classes that ACC offers. The dual-credit program allows students to get into college programs without having all of the prerequisites, then they can earn a high school diploma as they gain credits in programs such as integrated health care assistant, healthcare aid, business, childhood development and police studies.
Elton Taylor, 35, of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, said that about four years ago he started to think that he really needed to make a change in his life and then last year, he started to make preparations to go back to school.
“I wanted a better career so I could provide more for my kids. This was a good opportunity because they were at the right age, and I was at the right age maturity wise to finish up and move on,” Taylor said.
Taylor is moving on to study computer systems technology at ACC in the fall.
Bridget Pozo of Souris is a mother of four children who always understood the importance of having a high school diploma. Her son graduated from high school the previous day and now she also is receiving a high school diploma and is planning on moving on to the psychiatric nursing program at Brandon University in the fall.
» rbooker@brandonsun.com