Twyanna Williams, a 65-year-old grandmother from Philadelphia who put off her schooling for a number of years owing to financial concerns, has now completed her high school degree. She was also recognised as the class valedictorian, which is an honour!
Williams’ parents divorced while she was a teen, preventing her from finishing high school. In order to provide for the family, she was forced to take jobs.
Williams told The Philadelphia Inquirer, “I felt bad for myself for leaving school and seeing my classmates graduate but I was working. “My main priority was to survive.”
She was required to work in the area’s hotels, hospitals, and fast food outlets. When she had to witness the graduations of her two daughters and four grandkids, she was reminded of her desire to return to school and obtain a high school diploma.
She declared, “Everyone deserves a high school diploma. “The more I grew older, the more I desired it.”
Williams had the chance to go back to school last year because of Philadelphia’s Educational Options Programs, which enable older students to finish the credits necessary for a high school graduation.
She recently completed the programme and was one of the two valedictorians in her category B class at South Philadelphia High School for returning students who were 40 years of age and older.
