Olive Gallant is the 2003 recipient of the Co-operators Learner Achievement Award.

Her teachers said, “Olive was a very dedicated student and did more than what was expected of her to make sure that she understood each new concept that she encountered.

She will be writing her GED exams in a few weeks and we feel very confident that she will be successful and will continue on her way to “life long learning”.

I quit school when I was in Grade 6. The reason for quitting was because we were always moving. I was never in one school long enough to learn anything or to make friends.

After I quit, I got a job babysitting. I have started so many jobs but had to quit because of my lack of education. I am a single mother of three children and wanted to do something with my life where it would be of some good to me and my children.

I decided to come back to school 25 years later for many reasons — to help me find a better job and to help my ten-year-old son. I want him to have a chance in life – one I didn’t have!

My son Jake has a rare eye disease so we have to make numerous trips to the IWK in Halifax to monitor his condition and perform any necessary surgeries. This becomes a very costly venture. Even though Jake has missed a lot of school I work really hard with him so that he doesn’t fall behind in his studies.

I started at the Institute of Adult and Community Education in November in Level 1. I now think I am ready to write my GED exams. I really didn’t think I could get this far in such a short time but when you really work hard and want something strongly enough it is surprising what you can do.

Thanks to the IACE I feel confident that I can change things in my life for the better. I know getting my Grade 12 will open many doors for me.