Ellouise Lewis had a chance to rewrite her story. The 90-year-old recently earned an honorary GED certificate at Gulfport Care Center.
“I never did get a chance to graduate until this day,” Lewis said, according to WLOX.
The long-awaited accomplishment comes eight decades after Lewis dropped out of school in the 10th grade. The decision was not easy, and she desired to finish what she had started.
So, Lewis shared her interest to complete her studies with Activity Director Lisa Perdue who made it her mission, alongside the Care Center staff, to do everything in their power to make that dream come true.
“It’s a blessing to me and to my coworkers to be able to make this happen,” Perdue said, according to WLOX.
Perdue then contacted Wells of SouthGate who helped to administer a mock test that would lead to their first-ever recipient of the honorary GED certificate.
“It was just great to be involved with this,” said Leonard Martin, who presented the certificate, according to WLOX.
“She’s the first,” her son Greg Lewis said, according to WLOX. “She’s pivotal. So, hopefully, it will open doors for others to follow in her footsteps.”
Lewis’ honorary GED symbolizes her willingness and knowledge to complete SouthGate’s course.
“When they told me here that I could get my GED, I was happy about it. I’m still happy,” Lewis said while crying. “Excuse me, because this makes me happy to know that I can do this.”
Lewis is a reminder that one should always continue to dream.
She joins Merrill Pittman Cooper, who also never allowed his aspirations to graduate to fizzle out.
As AfroTech previously reported, the 101-year-old received an honorary high school diploma from the Jefferson School District.
