My father completed eight grades back in the day when that was all that was offered or needed. He was a farm boy. Dad could have thrived on much less. I wonder what the requirements were for a soldier when he enlisted in the Marines in 1917? Much different than today, I am sure.

Dad figured what was good enough for him was good enough for his children. My two brothers, Rodney and Russell ended their schooling at the eighth grade. Anyway, that was all that was offered in Pulaski Township in Jackson County in the 1940's. Rodney enlisted in the Navy and Russell did, too, a short time later. It was war time again.

I was the only one in our family that liked school. My grades were always at the top of my class. I wanted desperately to go to college, but that was not to be. Dad said unkind things about high school girls. I was encouraged to drop out of school and get a job. Women were only good for keeping house and having babies, he said. I fought to stay in school.

To make that possible, I moved in with the telephone operator of our township's privately owned telephone company. She had the switchboard in her home. After school and through the evenings I manned the switchboard to give her a rest. This arrangement worked out very well until the school was burned by arsonists. They had torched several high schools in the area.

It would be some time before a new school was built. After all, it was war time. There were other priorities. Arrangements were made with some businesses in the village of Concord. Classes were held all over the downtown area, even over the tavern. I would have to buy new textbooks, since mine burned in the fire. Dad wouldn't hear of that. There was no choice but to quit school. At fifteen, I went to work as a housekeeper for a wealthy family in Jackson.

School took a backseat in my life. It would be many years before the opportunity came to complete my high school studies. By then, my father was dead and I was married with a family of my own. My husband had no problem with my high school aspirations. I had time to take the classes. He probably thought it was best to keep me busy. He was right.

I checked in with the principal of the high school I would have graduated from years before. He would allow me to graduate from Concord high School if I first received his approval for each class and completed the course of study needed to graduate. He wasn't happy about me doing that and told me so.

Studies for grades eleven and twelve would have to be approved by him and completed. I signed up for night school classes at Jackson High School. They were the only ones offered in the county. My first class was ninth grade psychology. I have written about those experiences.

I completed two years of studies in one school year. My plan was to walk across the stage in cap and gown to receive my high school diploma with my family looking on. But that was not to be.

My diploma came in the mail. Enclosed was a note from the principal saying that if I received my diploma in person, others would want to quit school and follow my example. He also said he hoped I would achieve everything I wanted. I did. Going on to college, I was on the Dean's List, graduating with an Associate Degree. Education is something no one can take away from you. I fought to get it.