Jaquetta Coleman, an Early Childhood Care and Education major, has been selected as the 2017 Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education delegate for Central Georgia Technical College and will represent the College at the EAGLE Leadership Institute, March 13-15, 2017.

The Leadership Institute recognizes and honors students who have demonstrated superior achievement in adult education classes and programs. The Technical College System of Georgia through its Office of Adult Education sponsors the annual institute in March.

Lisa Dennis, a GED instructor in the Adult Education Division at CGTC, nominated Coleman to compete for the delegation. Dennis’ reason for selecting Coleman centered heavily on strong character attributes; motivation and persistence in earning her GED® and how it was significant to the progress of not only herself but of the entire class.

“I know her motto is, “Just do it,” Dennis said, referring to Coleman’s belief in the famed Nike slogan. “Her rationale is if you know that you have something to get done; then get it done. I interpret her motto as, “To thine self be true.” In other words, if a student knows there are concepts that he or she doesn’t know, then he or she should be truthful with themselves and take the time to learn the necessary concepts and apply them. Often we serve students who “just want their GED,” without taking the time to learn the necessary information to become successful on the GED Test.”

So, what exactly did Coleman, now a student-worker with Adult Education, just do to become CGTC’s delegate?

The story of Coleman earning her GED, receiving a certification in Early Childhood Care and Education, pursuing her associate degree in the same field, and then reliving it all in the EAGLE selection process is what she called surreal.

Coleman is the mother of seven children, a supreme feat within itself. Add in having to help each of them with homework, and imagine how much more difficult it becomes.

“One day as I was working with my children on their homework, I noticed that times were changing, my children were growing, and the skills that I needed to help them were becoming more demanding,” Coleman said.
 
Coleman admitted that she needed more ways to help them. To meet the demand, she only had one option.
 
“I knew that I needed to be in school,” she said. “I knew that I was not where I wanted to be in life.”
 
To land on her feet, she finally enrolled in the Adult Education program after her third time walking through the doors of the College. After doing so, she went home excited, sharing with her family her newfound goals and her plans to commit to her education.
 
Reflecting on the early pursuits of education, and then being nominated as an EAGLE participant, Coleman said it would have been hard to imagine her academic life without the involvement of the AED.
 
Coleman said the whole division, but in particular Dennis, was her “backbone” in working through the adult education requirements, and that her method of teaching was very hands-on.
 
"If you don't know something or think you don't know something, she helps you find it in a way where she takes time out to deal with everybody the same way,” Coleman said.  “She dealt with Jaquetta, how Jaquetta needed."
 
Through the support of the AED, her husband and her children, Coleman moved through her GED® requirements and continued on to Accelerating Opportunity, an innovative program designed to help adult learners transition to credit instruction. Thereafter, she was nominated and went through the EAGLE program requirements.
 
EAGLE is the first statewide program in the nation and is designed to create greater awareness of educational opportunities that are available in local communities across the state, and to foster greater involvement in lifelong learning pursuits through the numerous adult education programs in the TCSG.
 
Colleges throughout the system nominate students to represent their institutions. Nominees compete by presenting an essay, a three to five minute speech, and answering predetermined questions asked by a panel of local judges.
 
In front of the panel, both nervous and strong, Coleman needed to tell her story beginning to end. She spoke about needing to procure her motivation, and what it took to walk this path out.
 
“(All of it) pushed that button, it activated me and I kept on walking,” she said.
 
After all this settled on Awards Day on the Warner Robins campus, Coleman found herself standing in a drafty auditorium, taking photos with instructors and staff, and receiving hugs from her husband.
 
"I realized that I had some capabilities, but you know, right here,” Coleman said, pointing to the auditorium with both hands, “I didn't expect it.”
 
Coleman will go on to represent the College in March at the Leadership Institute, hoping to encourage others everywhere in her path.
 
During the Leadership Institute adult learners participate in workshops, sessions and interviews where they will have the opportunity to be selected for the award of Georgia’s top student in Adult Education.