It wasn’t until Charity McLeod decided she wanted to be a real estate agent that she realized she needed her high school diploma. At the time she was facing pressure from her broker and was hopeful she could complete her GED quickly. With the help of NorQuest College’s community adult learning program (CALP) McLeod graduated two months later.
“Having your grade 12 just opens up so many doors,” McLeod said. “Even if I decide to change my career, I can do anything now. It’s like having the golden ticket.”
Living in Pincher Creek, McLeod took advantage of the personalized learning that CALP provides and is grateful to have been connected with a tutor in her community. After being out of school for three decades, McLeod struggled with relearning how to learn, and said she is thankful for the support from her community learning program who helped increase her confidence.
“People learn differently,” she said. “The tutors had the tools to not only teach me math, but they were also able to teach me how to learn and that made a big difference.”
She added she was also impressed with the dedication of her tutors who would meet her in the library, even when the school was closed on holidays.
Despite signing up for the program with the goal of completing her high school diploma, McLeod said she gained invaluable life skills in the process. The program not only offers the opportunity for students to complete their schooling, but it also provides additional supports to help students learn how to manage everyday stress and helps improve the skills they use in their daily lives.
“I didn’t just learn math, I also learned test skills,” said McLeod who admitted to feeling anxious when preparing for math exams. “I learned how to mentally prepare to perform under pressure.”
McLeod has now applied to start her real estate course and says she feels confident she’ll achieve her goal of finding success in the real estate industry. However, even if she decides to change her career, McLeod says that her high school diploma will remove the limitations she once faced.
“I was initially embarrassed to tell people I was finishing high school, but now I’m not, because I realized you’re never too old to learn.”