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SPOTLIGHT ON MALIKAH ROWLAND Before Malikah Rowland’s grandmother died, Malikah promised her that she would finish her high school education. In November 2001, Malikah came to OIC reluctantly. She was a new mother and didn’t trust anyone else to care for her child. She also had what she called “a bit of an attitude problem.” Her first steps toward the GED were halting, but every time she gave up, OIC staff called and encouraged her to come back. So she did. In 2003 Malikah passed four of the five GED tests; she passed the fifth in 2004 but still didn’t have enough points to earn her GED. Again she left, returning in 2005 and 2006 to continue pursuing her goal. In March 2007 Malikah reentered OIC needing just 40 points to fulfill her GED requirements. She retook the reading test and passed—with 120 extra points! Now in the process of taking over her father’s business, Malikah is looking forward to taking business management courses at Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC). Asked how she felt about earning her GED, Malikah exclaimed, “I feel like I won a million dollars!” |
