Adult learners graduate with GED at LCCC

Almost 100 students graduated Wednesday with a GED or high school diploma at Lorain County Community College. Through LCCC's Aspire program, people can prepare to take their GED test and get other assistance to get training, employment and a post-secondary education. For each student, LCCC President Marcia Ballinger said they are one step closer to moving ahead either in their career or in college. She said this is one of her favorite ceremonies to do. Ballinger said although it can already be difficult to go back and get a GED, she said it was even more challenging for students this past year with COVID-19. She said she hopes they continue learning at LCCC and keep moving forward. To the students that had children in the audience, Ballinger said they are setting a powerful example for their kids. Dorisa Johnson understood what it was like to be a graduate of the GED program, because she was once one herself. Johnson said her dad died when she was 18, and she became homeless. After finding housing with the Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority, Johnson said she enrolled in the GED program at LCCC. She got her GED in early 2015. Johnson worked part-time at LCCC and continued to take courses with the college. She received her associate's degree and then her bachelor's degree this May through Youngstown State University. If she hadn't completed her GED, she said she wouldn't have been able to be the first in her family to complete college. Among the graduates was Lamar Horton. He dropped out when he was in high school. Horton said a lot was happening in his life that he had to cope with. But he said he put his friends before himself. Horton said he started to care more about his friends' futures rather than his own. After he dropped out of school, Horton got a job in heating and cooling. He wasn't interested in going back to school — he had a good job and was getting paid. But when he was 18, his girlfriend got pregnant and he faced parenthood. Horton said he wanted to be the best dad he could, and he didn't want to just be a high school dropout. That's when he chose to pursue his GED. He was working full time and going to school and adjusting to being a new dad. Horton said he would give up for months at a time. With encouragement from his family, he started again. He passed the first test, but then failed the second test twice. Horton said he kept pushing and was finally able to graduate. His son is now 5 years old, and Horton said he's happy his son got to see him graduate. Horton now has a second son on the way, he is engaged to his girlfriend, just bought his first house and landed a good paying job. Eventually, Horton said he would like to start his own business and keep pursuing an education in HVAC. He said none of it would have been possible without his GED. It's not the end of the road, Horton said, but just the beginning. Contact Laina Yost at (440) 329-7121 or lyost@chroniclet.com.