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DCC DEGREE – A HIGH PRIORITY FOR SHARON WILSON

DCC Graduate Sharon Wilson is shown at the 2007 Commencement.

DANVILLE, VA, May 31, 2007 - Sharon Wilson was determined that nothing would get in the way of her earning an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Early Childhood Education at Danville Community College this year. Not even brain surgery would stop her.

“I have wanted to earn a college degree all of my life. I could have gone right after I finished high school but I didn’t,” says Wilson, who was one of 434 graduates at DCC’s 2007 Commencement. “But it’s been a challenge for me.”

The challenges actually began in July 2001 when she started having problems with her left eye. She left her job at VF Playwear for a doctor’s appointment only to be told that she had a growth behind her eyeball. Her surgery was successful and she went back to work.

Her next challenge came in 2004 when VF Playwear closed its doors and she was without a job. While many of her co-workers enrolled in DCC right away to take classes to upgrade skills and learn new careers, she scoffed at the idea, thinking she was “too old” to go school.

“I just felt inadequate. I was scared. I had been out of school for more than 30 years. I just thought I wouldn’t be able to keep up,” she explains.

She says she watched many of her former co-workers take classes and heard them talk about their positive experiences at DCC. After a little persuasion from one of friends, she decided to give it a try. In the fall of 2005, she enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program.

“I chose Early Childhood because I love children,” she says noting she has three children and two grandchildren. “This was the best decision I ever made. DCC is fantastic!”

Wilson says she found that the classrooms were not as scary as she thought they would be. She says the younger students and the older students work together in a very friendly and helpful environment.

“I find we all help each other – the young ones and old ones,” she says. “There is really no difference because we all learn from each other. We cooperate together.”

Wilson faced her next challenge in fall 2006, when she began having complications with her eye again. After several tests, she was diagnosed with another brain tumor. They tried to shrink the growth using medication to no avail. Soon, she was headed to the operating room again for another surgery.

“I think I was pushing myself too fast, because I wanted to finish school so badly,” she adds. “That was not good for my health.”

During the time of her treatments, Wilson missed a lot of her schoolwork, but she says her fellow students and instructors kept her up to date.

“All of DCC’s instructors were great during this time,” she says. They provided a lot of encouragement and assistance.”

Her most recent challenge occurred on March 12, 2007 when she had surgery and had to miss some schoolwork. Again, her instructors and classmates rallied to help her keep up with her work.

“I had good days and bad days. I thought I may not be able to finish school, but thanks to the many helpful people at DCC, I completed my degree,” Wilson says.

In addition, Wilson says she has drawn on her deep faith to sustain her while going through her challenging times. Even in the midst of her illness, she managed to study, and continue to be active in her church, Mt Sinai Glorious Church of God, where she is working in ministry, and member of the praise team, usher board, missionary department, and choir. She also helps host a radio ministry program, and speaks at area churches.

When she thinks back to her earlier fears about enrolling in college, she says she should have given it a try despite her feelings. Today, she recommends DCC to others – young and not so young.

“I encourage anyone who had doubts about returning to school to do so,” she continues. “Sometimes you have to have faith and just go forward.”