Iris Grew In Nashville
Honky tonks and huge hotels – not exactly what student Iris expected when she enrolled at Seeds a year ago in April. That’s because her road to Seeds of Literacy was long.
Struggles in School
Growing up, Iris liked school. She just didn’t like the school that she attended. Her report card showed struggling grades and provided little hope for improvement. Compounded with family and health concerns, she left high school in the 11th grade. She landed in a trade program and became an STNA.
As she got older, she got restless and wanted more. There was an offer for a better job at a major local hospital, but only if she got her GED first. With encouragement from her husband and children, she set out to do just that, finding Seeds on the way.
Commitment and Progress
Completing her GED required commitment and changes to her daily routine. “It meant cutting my work hours, but it’s been worth it,” Iris said. “It’s like I was meant to be here.” And she’s making real progress, too. In just under a year, she completed three sections of the GED, with only math remaining.
Iris works nights and then attends tutoring sessions at Seeds at 9am and again at 1pm, just about every day. “I’m tired, but I want to finish. And everyone around me tells me I can do it.”
Iris credits her success to the atmosphere, saying everyone is always smiling and positive at Seeds, “even on Monday mornings,” she insists. The one-to-one tutoring gives her the extra attention and encouragement that she needs and has built her confidence. “It’s made a huge difference for me,” she said. A guaranteed job in the medical field is her ultimate focus, her family keeps her motivated, and without the distractions and competition she had in traditional high school, she’s right on track.
Empowering Others
In a taped interview last fall, she encouraged those thinking about getting a GED to call her. Then call Seeds. “I like to help people, it’s just in my nature,” Iris said.
“Her propensity to help others, positive attitude, and success in the program made her the perfect candidate to be an ambassador,” said Becca Huntington, who runs the Student Ambasssador Program. Now in its second year, Student Ambassadors learn about owning their stories, helping them build confidence to help others overcome obstacles.
Once an Ambassador, Iris was selected to attend COABE 2024 – the Coalition on Adult Basic Education. This year, the conference was held in Tennessee.
Unexpected Experiences
When she told her family she was invited to the conference, they encouraged her to attend. She figured she’d attend some sessions, see some sights, and enjoy a fancy hotel room all to herself. But once she was there, her plans immediately changed. Iris attended the conference with Seeds site coordinators Chris Richards and Todd Seabrook. “They’d knock on my door right before 9am and I would be completely ready,” she said. “I was excited. I attended sessions from 9am – 5pm all day. I didn’t even think about going back to my room. I was learning a lot and it was fun.”
The very first day, Iris attended a session exclusively for the adult learners who were in attendance. According to event organizers, it was the most well-attended adult learner session they’ve hosted. She quickly made friends and exchanged contact info with the other women.
One panel featured students from all cultural backgrounds. “So cool. The one dress, oh my gosh!” she exclaimed. Another panel featured students discussing the barriers they faced in high school, many similar to the adults at Seeds.
“It was really emotional but it got kinda dark,” Iris said, sharing that one woman’s story included being held hostage in a basement, depriving her of an early education.
There were a few sessions that were less exciting than others, Iris admitted, but even at those, no one complained. Everyone was so positive and she managed to learn something from each one she attended.
Iris said she really enjoyed hearing how other adult education programs run. She spoke with students, instructors, a few tutors. She was particularly intrigued to hear which programs offer additional services like daycare, ESL, and transportation because of support and funding from their local government. When asked, she shared details about how Seeds operates, but was more interested in bringing back information and ideas that could benefit her classmates in Cleveland.
During the trip, Chris, Todd, and Iris took the event shuttle to Ole Red, the famous tavern owned by country music star Blake Shelton. When the guys were ready to call it a night, Iris stayed behind with all the new friends she had made. “I had a blast. It was such a great time. And then, like a teenager with curfew, I went back to the hotel and texted the guys that I had made it home safe,” she joked.
Gratitude and Growth
Iris was so grateful for the opportunity to attend and represent her classmates in Nashville. When her time at Seeds is complete, she’ll have gained much more than a GED – she’ll have her friends from all over the country and Music City memories.
###KLK