In Celebration

One of the important elements of CWJC is celebrating - big things, little things, group achievements, individual achievements, birthdays, and, of course, the completion of the program. Although our graduation ceremony is soon --Friday, April the 8th -- I wanted to write about someone's personal achievement that we celebrated recently.

On Friday night, March 11th, Lisa Lowery, who teaches our computer classes, was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, the International Honor Society of Junior Colleges. Marilyn O'Brien and I, along with a few other friends, were able to celebrate that event by being in attendance at the program at Amarillo College that evening. The cwjc participants celebrated Lisa's achievement with hugs and words of affirmation on the Monday after.

I am particularly proud of Lisa's achievement for more than one reason. First, I know something of what it has required of her to reach this place. She entered the paralegal studies program at the age of 41 with the mental resources to do the work but lacking prior formal education -- 7th grade and a GED. Although the invitation to join Phi Theta Kappa came as a surprise to Lisa, she truly earned it. She set her goals, knew her priorities, and kept her focus and, as a result, has as a 4.0 GPA.

Lisa has the emotional resources to persist in spite of obstacles (There have been many.)  She also has the spiritual resources that are evident in her walk and talk; she continues to add to those resources in her personal spiritual life and her commitment to and involvement in the family at First Baptist Church.

Second, I am also immensely pleased because she is a role model to the ladies in our CWJC program. She knows many of the pains and difficulties of their lives because they have been hers too. Like them, she is starting over. Of course, they talk together, but she is also communicating so much by living her life before them.

One of the most important illustrations they see is that not only do you not have to accomplish things alone but also that you cannot accomplish things without the support of others. Lisa is demonstrating to them how essential a support system is, but that it only works when it is used. Because she has gratefully welcomed and utilized her support system, all of us who are a part of it feel that we have a part in her achievement.

So much that we teach at CWJC gives our participants new awareness of themselves and their potential, new knowledge they can apply, and some beginning experience with mentors and others that lets them know first hand that support is available to them. Sometimes it is just hard for them to believe that "This is really for me too."

What music to my ears to hear one of them say recently, "If Lisa can do it, so can I."

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