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Published Friday, August 15, 2008 in Education
Photo by Megan Almon
Linh Wight, back right, fulfilled a lifelong dream of learning how to read and write after being denied the opportunity to attend school as a child in South Vietnam. Wight, pictured with West Central Technical College President Skip Sullivan and her daughters, Sabrina and Alani, received the Lavinia Barron Memorial Scholarship during the GED graduation.
GED graduates honored
By Megan Almon
The Times-Herald
As a child in South Vietnam, Linh Wight was denied the opportunity to attend school.
When she came to America 21 years ago, hope blossomed within her that someday, someone would give her the opportunity to learn to read and write. For two decades, she waited patiently for that chance. With two young daughters of her own excelling in school, Wight decided it was time to take it.
Wight received the Lavinia Barron Memorial Scholarship during the annual Coweta County GED (General Educational Development) Graduation ceremonies Thursday night at the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts in Newnan.
"Her accomplishments demonstrate the belief that, truly, education is the key to success," said presenter Jan Gregory.
Wight expressed a deep gratitude to the teachers and volunteers at West Central Technical College's Adult Education Program.
"The only thing I've ever wanted is to go to school and read," she said. "Here I am ... the land I lived in where I was born, they never saw me for who I am. Here they have taken me, loved me and accepted me for me, not what I have or what I don't have."
Wight encouraged others to pursue their dreams of higher education, especially at West Central.
"Please come and hope," she said. "It doesn't matter who you are, what background or where you come from -- they will give you everything they have."
Wight plans to continue her education and attend college.
She was honored alongside 29 GED graduates.
Speaker Nicole Brewer shared her story as well, having started the adult education program last August at her mother's request. Soon after Brewer started her journey, her mother lost her battle with breast cancer. Brewer said she had a hard time finding a reason to continue, but was standing onstage receiving her GED thanks to the encouragement of her family, classmates and teachers.
"I thank God for this opportunity," she said.
Keynote speaker Dr. Skip Sullivan, president of West Central Technical College, preceded his "No Mistakes" talk by giving each graduate a smooth stone.
Sullivan assured graduates that, no matter the mistakes they'd made along the way, it was no mistake they were being honored Thursday night.
He drew the analogy between each graduate and their stone, asking, "What abrasive parts of your life came together to polish you into the fine graduate you are this evening?"
He quoted past TV personality Art Linkletter -- "Things turn out the best for people who make the best of things the way they turn out."
Sullivan encouraged the graduates to continue that polishing process with their next steps.
"Friction in life may still exist, you may have scars and scratches, but you're far better today than when you started this process," he said.
The Adult Education Program in Coweta County is a collaborative effort between West Central Technical College, Certified Literate Is Coweta's Key (CLICK) and the Coweta County School System.
The Lavinia Barron Memorial Scholarship was created to honor the memory of Barron, a longtime supporter of education, particularly adult education. Barron was a member of Central Baptist Church.