Taking the podium on the North Charleston Performing Arts Center stage, Ashley Robbins told the crowd of friends, family and fellow graduates that she has a number of people to thank for getting her to where she is now.
Her appreciation went to God, first and foremost. She then thanked her own loved ones for giving her the courage, support and strength to come this far.
She acknowledged Berkeley County School District – particularly the faculty and staff from the Adult and Community Education program. She also thanked her new coworkers, her teachers from her years as a young BCSD student, and all those who have helped her along the way from childhood to young adulthood.
“To all of you, I send my immense gratitude for contributing to my accomplishment today,” she said.
Robbins then took a deep breath and addressed all of the Adult Education graduates, nestled in the first two rows of the Performing Arts Center, all wearing the same green gowns with matching caps.
“I want to congratulate and thank my fellow graduates, because I know this journey has not been easy for all of us, and I commend you for your hard work and perseverance,” she said.
BCSD held a total 10 graduations across the North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center two weeks ago. The Adult and Community Education ceremony was held May 28. VIEW PHOTOS.
It is not uncommon to see graduates and family members shed happy tears at any one of BCSD’s ceremonies, but the Adult Education graduation is, arguably, BCSD’s most emotional one. The ceremony celebrates a couple different groups of people: those who completed the English as a Second Language program, those who did the High School Diploma program, and those, like Robbins, who finished the High School Equivalency Diploma/GED program.
Going back to school may not necessarily be the easiest decision – it took Robbins four tries to finish – but many Adult Education graduates will say they are glad they did it; getting that diploma opens doors to higher education and employment opportunities and an overall better life.
For Robbins, her graduation story is extra special; not only is she officially a BCSD graduate, she is also a BCSD employee.
Try, try again
Robbins is 24 years old. She grew up in Goose Creek in BCSD schools. She initially attended Cross High starting in eighth grade but had to transfer to Stratford High around 11th grade when she needed to help take care of her grandmother.
Robbins had thrived at Cross High but experienced personal struggles at Stratford and eventually dropped out. She then fell into a bad crowd, made some unfortunate decisions and continued to struggle into her late teens.
When she was 19 years old Robbins became pregnant with her son, which motivated her to turn things around and focus on building a better life.
Robbins first tried to get her GED through GED.com, but Robbins knew it would benefit her to be able to work in-person with her teachers as opposed to only communicating with them online.
She then looked into Job Corps, a residential career training program in Bamberg offered by the U.S. Department of Labor. Participants can also earn their high school diploma or its equivalency through it. However, it just was not a good fit for Robbins.
She also tried BCSD’s Adult and Community Engagement program while she was still pregnant with her son in 2020 but dropped out because of scheduling conflicts. However, she remembered how encouraging the staff members were at the program, and it resonated with her.
After she gave birth to her daughter in August of last year, Robbins returned to BCSD Adult Education to try again, and it was just as she remembered it the first time she stepped foot inside the building back in 2020.
“It’s so welcoming,” she said. “All the teachers are so helpful and they deeply care about the students.”
She needed to complete all four core subject areas, and Robbins focused on one subject at a time to make sure she was successful.
Robbins named social studies teacher Terri Edens and math teacher Brandi Vangorder as two of her favorite teachers; Vangorder was particularly helpful because Robbins struggled the most with math.
“I saved that (test) for last,” Robbins said. “I did English first because that is my best subject, then I did social studies, and then science and math.”
She did one test per month – August, September, October and then November, when Robbins took the dreaded math test. She passed all four subjects with flying colors.
Robbins said she was admittedly nervous to go back to school but she did it – and now she hopes others will hear her story and feel inspired to do the same.
“Do it now. Do it scared,” she said. “That’s what I did – I was scared…but I did it anyways.”
Serving up new opportunities
BCSD’s Adult and Community Education program did more than get Robbins her diploma – it helped her get a job.
Angela Simmons, career and college navigator with BCSD Adult Education, learned one of the district school cafeterias was hiring. Simmons got more information on the hours and schedule, and encouraged Robbins to look into the job.
Robbins has now worked in Cane Bay Middle’s cafeteria since January – “and I love it.” She credits her boss, Child Nutrition Services manager Missy Loftis, for showing her the ropes and making it a great environment, along with her coworkers.
“I’m learning a lot from them,” Robbins said.
When she was younger, Robbins had envisioned a career working in healthcare but, with her children being so little, is unsure how that would work right now. However, after the wonderful experience she had with Edens and Vangorder, Robbins is considering a possible future career in education.
In the meantime, Robbins said she is happy in her new job and knows she definitely wants to stay employed in schools.
In Cane Bay Middle’s cafeteria, Robbins has rotated through different positions: she has done “back up”, which is handling vegetables and making everybody’s stations stay stocked; she has gotten involved in cooking the entrees; she has handled the fruit supply, grains and by the end of the school year was working on actually serving the students. She had plans to work for the district’s Summer Meal Program as well.
Robbins said she likes that the job is very engaging and constantly changes. She also gets to interact with the students a lot – some of whom she was starting to recognize before the semester ended. The students were starting to recognize her, too.
“I’m always learning something new, and the recipes constantly change, so we’re never really too quiet; there’s always something to do,” she said. “I’m in constant go-mode.”
From getting her diploma to landing the job in Cane Bay Middle’s cafeteria, Robbins has grown through perseverance and learned she can do anything she sets her mind to.
“Through discipline…I can actually achieve the things I want,” she said.
'I did it'
While the Adult Education graduation ceremony was not held until May, Robbins was technically done with program after she finished her fourth and final test back at Thanksgiving.
Even with the commencement exercises still six months away at the time, Robbins was asked to be the featured speaker during the ceremony. She was nervous, but Robbins knew she had a powerful story to share – one that she hoped would help others and encourage them to go back to school if they were thinking about it.
"It took months of scraping by," she said.
She struggled with motherhood, family health issues, co-parenting, trying to gain independence, and so much more. She recapped studying one subject at a time, and got a little chuckle from the crowd when she talked about how tough math was for her. She recounted how much she loves her new job, and how having the chance to sprinkle a little sunshine in the lives of the students brings her so much joy.
During her speech, she broke down the two biggest things she learned in the past year:
1. Always put your faith over fear – or rather, “especially when you are scared.”
2. Do it now. “Time and effort are not things we can get back in this life.”
As she prepared to leave the stage, Robbins thanked the graduates.
“I wish you all the love, kindness and grace you will need to lead these wonderful lives that we are creating,” she said.
Then she flashed a smile.
“And, Mama – I did it!”
Learn more about BCSD's Adult and Community Education HERE.