Encouragement key for adult education grads

Encouragement from family is what prompted Alex Williams to go back to school and earn his GED.

Williams was one of 300 people who lost his job at Cone Mills in Greensboro, N.C. He got turned down for jobs because he didn’t have a college or high school diploma or a GED.

It took about 14 months before his wife Carol and his sister, Annie Graves, got him to go back to school. Williams was one of 50 people to graduate from Danville Adult High School and GED Program.

“You’re never too old if you set your mind to it,” Williams, who was the speaker for the GED class, said.

Family drove up from Florida to see Williams walk across the stage of the George Washington High School Auditorium. He is a bus driver with the Danville Public Schools and encourages his children to get an education.

Karen Cardwell told graduates never to take what their parents say for granted. She said graduates like herself never gave up on themselves — they were “just on hold.”

Cardwell, the adult education class speaker, said she want to keep on learning. Education is the key to success, but her efforts were aided by teachers and staff members who encouraged her along with the way.

Ashley Chandler was the teen GED class speaker, and she told the audience she was the type of student who was quiet, had few friends and didn’t take part in many activities. How times have changed.

Chandler overcame her shyness and has true friends. She enjoyed the journey that got her to GW and she said she wouldn’t change a thing.

“I showed myself and others what I can do,” she said.

City Councilman Larry Campbell told graduates to not be held back physically or mentally in pursuing their goals. He said they will be required to make many choices in life, and he hopes the tools they’ve learned will help them along the way.

“Life has a lot to offer you by receiving your diploma,” he said.

Contact staff writer Bernard Baker at or at (434) 791-7986.