Area resident Christy Thomas accomplished a life long goal of obtaining a GED (General Education Degree) from Blue Ridge’s Fannin Literacy Action Group (FLAG) and with it came a renewed sense of hope and self worth.
“When I was going to class I started feeling that maybe – just maybe – I could actually take some college courses when I finished,” said Thomas.
One of her main goals, initially, was to get a four dollar raise at her workplace, Robinson Stave Blue Ridge Mill in Morganton, but she also found a sense of pride and accomplishment, she said.
Not having a high school diploma or a GED was embarrassing for Thomas. “It was always embarrassing when someone found out or when I came to the educational part of information on anything I had to fill out.”
Thomas, on the other hand, thrived in FLAG’s educational setting. “My experience at FLAG was great. Mrs. Donna and Mrs. Teresa were awesome. They were willing to help in anything I needed.”
As far as having fun with the subjects, she said, “I didn’t want to miss anything! I actually enjoyed all of the subjects. It amazed me at how much I did enjoy it compared to being younger and in school.”
The seven month journey had its challenges, though. “The hardest challenge I faced was working all day at the saw mill, which was very physically demanding and then going to class and trying to concentrate while I was so tired.” But, Thomas had the support of her family and her co-workers.
“I had the support of my family to help with things I no longer had time to do, such as cooking on those nights or picking my son up from football practice.
“My bosses at Robinson Stave were also amazing. When they knew it was my day to go to school, and we needed to work over, they would push me out the door and tell me to go to school,” she said.
Achieving her GED did her heart good. “It gave me such hope and a sense of self worth that I enrolled for the spring semester at North Georgia Tech, taking business technology,” she said.
Thomas said she had her first son at 15-years-old and had worked physically demanding jobs ever since. “I am 44-years-old and want to set up my future financially and still be able to enjoy my retirement without being physically broken down from working so hard all my life.”
So, Thomas spoke with her boss before starting classes and shared with him how she wanted to get away from physically demanding jobs. “I talked with my boss before I started taking my college classes and told him that I loved working for the company and that I was going to take some classes ... We talked about a job he had in mind for me and the classes I should take to advance to that position.”
Thomas learned her goals could be reachable. She said, “I do believe that FLAG played a big role in my journey. There, I think, is where I learned that ‘hey I can do this.’”