Graduating class overcomes obstacles to succeed

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When one person makes a positive change in his or her life, the benefits spread to those around them. When that positive change is going back to school for Grade 12, the benefits spread even further.

That's the case with the 2003 graduating class from the Adult 12 Program at the Saskatoon campus of the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT). Thirty adults, aged 18-50, became students again, and have changed their lives forever.

SIIT has been offering training and education programs to First Nations adults for 26 years. And for almost as long, the Adult Basic Education Program has been helping to change lives.

Instructors Carol Mackey and Carolyn Mathias-Naylor have seen a lot over the years, but every day brings its challenges. "Often it's like Murphy's Law: if something can go wrong in the lives of these students, it will. We have to think on our feet most days," said Mackey. "When a student misses class because her babysitter couldn't show up, we have to help resolve the situation fast. Each student must have 90 per cent attendance. Since students must take provincial exams, they can't get too far behind, so attendance is crucial."

"We have high standards for our students, because we believe that our students are capable of meeting the highest standards when given the opportunity," added Mathias-Naylor. "The courses they take are the essentials, English, math and sciences. They get all of the tough stuff and none of the fluff stuff."

What makes these graduates phenomenal? Achieving success despite all the hard knocks life can give. Between them, they are experiencing not just the traumas most people face, but many that most of us never see.

Since many of these traumas are current, a number of students could not speak publicly about their situations. Many face violent domestic situations which will be worse if made public. Every year, about 30 per cent of the students experience strained or broken relationships. They have to deal with jealousy caused by their return to school, not to mention stalking. Then there's stress and often substance abuse, whether their own or that of loved ones. Many are from out of town, so their traditional support network is gone.

The bureaucracy doesn't always help either. Because many do not qualify for band funding, there is a provincial training allowance. But it's still a fixed income, and one that does not quickly cover emergencies, not even for medicine. Often months can pass before more money is available. So about 10 per cent of the class are evicted from their homes each year, while many others face forced moves due to the actions of family or friends. Social services either has no solutions, or steps in and takes over, providing no middle ground.

So why do they come? The majority thought of their kids and the value of an education. Between them, these 30 students have 73 children, aged 4 months and older.

"I didn't want to be a hypocrite," said one mother. "I couldn't tell my kids to do their homework and do well at school when I quit myself." Still others got sick of saying, "I'll do it next year."

There are many exceptional students in this class and even of the ones who can talk of their journey, the stories are too numerous to all be printed. The stories that follow are examples of the courage, stamina, and determination of all the students.

Melissa has been a single mother of an autistic boy for almost all of his 8 years. She came from an abusive home with a lot of substance abuse by her parents. She came back to school because she wanted to do something with her life. "I was so broke," she explained, "and some of my son's medicines were not covered by insurance and I didn't want to just be a floater in life. I wanted to actually do something and to say I did it, even if it was hard." Seeing her son deal with his disability keeps her motivated. "I know this is my first step in being where I want to be and I don't want to give that up. It'shard but once I get through it I will be proud of myself, and I know my son will be too."

Deanna is a single mother of four children. She went back to school because she needed a change in her life, for her children and herself. Then with the time demands of school, her husband started getting jealous and very abusive, so she had to leave him. "We are going through a divorce and custody battle right now," she noted. In September she was diagnosed with cancer in her right ovary, but she decided she was not going to let it stop her from achieving what she wants. "I had my surgery in October," she said, "and I stayed in school. I was supposed to stay home for six weeks, but I only took my surgery day and the next day off and came back to school. It was pretty hard. I couldn't bend over, but I have a lot of friends and they help me. We just found out in January that the cancer moved to the other side and I need a hysterectomy but I asked them to wait until I'm done school." She has also been motivated by her children. "I just got sick of being at home and wondering what my oldest daughter will think of me because I don't have my Grade12," she said. "I'm telling her to go to school and here I am at home just being a housewife, and in our society you can't be a housewife forever."

Steve gave up alcohol and two jobs to attend school. He and his wife have three boys and they know the value of education. "My wife and I like to be positive role models for our children so they can do the same for their children," he said. "Graduating from the Grade 12 program was the biggest and best goal that I have ever had, and I'm going to make it. It is very difficult, but through hard work and determination, I never believed for a moment that I could not do it. I had plenty of help from many people who also believed I could do this. It is because of them that I'm going to succeed. My road to success begins with a Grade 12 education."

Perry just became a young father this spring. He ejoys helping other students and never flaunts his excellent grades. "My life is filled with rose kisses and smiling rain," he said. "Although I may have my days of blah, these things brighten my life. They keep me from giving up." He has worked hard this year to bring his writing skills in line with his math and science grades, which are in the 90s. He has many options open to him at university in the areas of math and science.

Brian is married with five kids. He had been working for years as a seasonal laborer, and saw that was no way to teach his children or to secure their financial future. "It's not good enough for me," he said, "and I want the children to be involved in activities besides just being around the house. But it costs money to do any kind of sports and I'd like them to take part." He saw he needed to change himself before he could teach his children. "I had a rough life," he said, "and the only way to change it is to change myself. One of the ways of doing that is to be educated. When you're younger you want to travel with the crowd and be free but you end up following other people so you're not free. You have to change yourself first before you can change anything else."

Leah has two children and recently ended a bad long-term relationship. "I wanted to stop being a human punching bag," she said. She is recovering from her own struggles with alcohol, and has a dream to be the first in her family to get a university degree. "I want to be a role model to my younger cousins," she said. "I want them to know and see that drugs and alcohol are all ways to prevent their dreams and goals from happening."

Angel is a single mother of six, the youngest of which was born December 24, 2002, but her attendance is still great. "I'm still nursing my daughter," she said "and during my time being pregnant I was very tired but determined to come to school. It was hard because I didn't have the babysitter in my home. I had to haul my five kids to the babysitter. recently got my brother to live with us and babysit, which is great. Every evening we all sit together doing homework and I'm proud to say my son and daughters are doing really well at school."

For all the graduates, though staying has been a challenge, it's been well worth it. "My friends and support network are here now," said one student, "and we have had a common goal to graduate. Along the way we've learned not to beat ourselves up, and we've learned a lot of problem solving skills. Now I know I can do it."