Goff, whose path to graduation “was long and took many turns,” will deliver an inspiring speech during the ceremony. Her message: Never give up.
“After all these years, I just never stopped dreaming of getting my high school diploma,” she said. “It’s been one thing after another. I just kept going.”
Amy Leedy, director of the Miami Valley CTC’s Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) program, said 457 people locally have attained their GED this year, a 20 percent increase from last year.
She attributes it to “the downturn in the economy and people wanting to improve their resumes.
“It’s a requirement now to have a high school diploma or a GED,” Leedy said. “Not that it wasn’t before, but more people are out of work and trying to reenter the workforce.”
Statewide, there has been an upward trend of GED graduates in the past five years, according to data from the Ohio Department of Education. The number climbed from 16,942 in 2004 to 20,705 in 2008 before dipping to 18,627 last year.
The spring of 1940 was the last time Goff had been inside a classroom until the fall of 2001. She and her husband of 39 years, James, had decided to pursue their GEDs together. She was forced to take a break from her studies when he became ill in 2002 and died of stomach cancer in August, 2005, at age 79. A month later, she returned to class, explaining, “It was good therapy for me.”
Goff mastered the science, social studies, English and literature sections of the exam but the math section’s word problems proved to be a major challenge. After retesting 13 times, she finally passed that section.
The petite woman with the big smile became known in class for her “good morning, everyone” greeting and perfect attendance.
“She’s just an inspiration to the rest of the students,” said ABLE teacher Nancy Aubel, 62, of Centerville, who will retire June 30 after 35 years with the program.
Goff, a member of Bethesda Temple Apostolic Church, said dozens of people from the congregation have told her they plan to attend the commencement to see her receive her GED.
And though she’s reached that milestone, she plans to continue her education by taking a senior computer program at the Miami Valley CTC. Aubel said she earned a scholarship, waiving all fees.
For Goff, learning is a lifelong journey.
“It’s never too late to learn,” she said.
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