`My grandson is so proud of me'
Chandler resident Lana Grinrod, 55, earns GED at TVCC
By Cathy Krafve

Courtesy Photo

At age 55, Lana Grinrod starts college this fall, thanks to her GED. The grandmother with the bubbly personality is all smiles when asked about last May's graduation. "My grandson is so proud of me," she says, referring to the fact that she graduated with her high school equivalency just a few days before she flew to Oregon to watch him walk across the stage for his high school graduation.

Grinrod, from Chandler, missed the chance to finish high school early in life and she found that the years passed quickly as she raised her daughter.

When her daughter dropped out of school, Grinrod began urging her to take the GED. GED stands for General Education Development, an exam that is considered the equivalent of a high school diploma.

Grinrod even went so far as to make an appointment for her daughter with the enrollment personnel at Trinity Valley Community College where they offer classes to help students prepare to take the GED.

When she realized that her daughter was not going to make the appointment, Grinrod decided she would keep the appointment herself. She became determined to finish the education she had started so long ago.

She enrolled in the class and studied hard. At the end of the class, she managed to pass all of the GED, except the math part which is a "real bugga bear," according to Grinrod.

A lengthy illness prevented her from re-taking the math part of the test for the next two years. During those two years which included five surgeries, every day she spent in the hospital made her more determined than ever to go back and conquer the math.

"I was poked so many times in my arm (in the hospital), I said to myself if I get outta here, I'm going to be a phlebotomist (a person who draws blood for lab work)!"

She returned to the TVCC campus last March to test her skills at math.

"I took it (the GED) in March just to see where my low areas were. I never expected to pass. I've always had a problem with algebra. When I was in high school they didn't even have algebra. Nine days after I took the test, they told me I could look it up online. I saw the score and just went to bawling and squalling," says Lana.

"The day she passed I thought someone had died, she was crying so hard," said GED Instructor Karol Black. "I always knew she could do it. She just needed to realize that."

Those who left high school and want to finish their education can simply take the GED test without additional classes, according to Judy Bundy, supervising coordinator for adult education. However, a variety of classes are offered for those who have a little catching up to do. Adult education classes are free of charge and available on all three campuses; Athens, Pal- estine, Terrell, and Canton. The next GED orientation is scheduled for August 13.

With high school behind her, Grinrod starts her phlebotomy classes at Tyler Junior College this fall. Certification will follow; a process made possible because a grandmother got her courage together and tackled her GED.