When Beverly McGowan started her first job more than 30 years ago, she did so without ever having graduated from high school. This decision would haunt her everyday, until last year when, at the age of 51 she overcame all her emotional hurdles and obtained her GED.

In a frank interview with The Royal Gazette, Mrs. McGowan explains how she developed life-threatening meningitis at the age of four and because of the effects of this disease on her brain, was unable to cope with school.

“My teachers could not spend time with me because my classmates were ahead so I was moved along at the end of each school year to the next class, then to the next school, then out of school without ever passing,” she recalls.

While she was in her 30s her sister, Dolores Price, tried to convince her to get her GED through the Bermuda College.

“But I was afraid the teachers wouldn’t understand and give me the time I knew it would take,” she says. “So I just never thought about it again after that.”

However, six years ago her life changed.

“I was listening to (Everest) DeCosta’s radio talk show about the many children that had, and still are, failing in Bermuda’s education system. As I listened to the radio discussion, my own life from primary and secondary school flashed before my eyes,” she explains.

Hearing others’ remarks inspired her to call in and tell her story: “That radio talk show spurred me into action. I made a call to the Adult Education School and spoke to Mrs. Franks. She took the time to hear my life story and convinced me to start classes at AES.”

Mrs. McGowan says it was a leap of faith for her to control her fear of academic failure in order to try again, but her first day was like any other child’s first day - filled with excitement and fear of the unknown.

“I felt like I was 15 again and back in school. Everyone was wonderful and I think I cried for every little thing.

“They had a lot of patience and I just kept thinking ‘Where were you when I was in school?’ My favourite teacher, Mrs. Hill, took the time to explain everything to me and I eventually got it,” she recalls.

“My mother used to tease me that I would graduate with my children. She was right!” Mrs. McGowan laughs. Her 13-year-old son graduated from Warwick Academy the same day as her and the celebrations later that day lasted well into the night.

“He was so proud of me and said it was one day he would always remember. It would go down in history,” she says with a laugh. She also has an eight-year-old daughter.

Not only did her dream of finishing high school finally come true, but she always wanted to be a teacher and with her GED firmly in hand, she enrolled in a correspondent teachers’ course which she successfully completed.

“Now I’m just waiting to hear from the Department of Education about a teachers’ aid position,” she divulges. “I want to be there for children who struggled the way I did and if I can help even one of them, I will have succeeded in life.”

Despite her age, Mrs. McGowan says a whole new world has opened up to her, as has the realisation that there are still so many things she wants to do with her life.

The 2006-2007 school year at the Adult Education School starts with registration and interviews on September 5, with classes starting on September 11.

For more information, contact the school at 292-5809.