
Perseverance Pays Off
Megan Brady knows the value of perseverance.
She left high school early and began working to provide for her family. However, she never gave up her hope of completing her education.
In 2017, Megan decided that it was time to go back to school to complete her High School Equivalency Diploma. Megan met with Charlie Smart, a transition specialist at Northeast Mississippi Community College (NEMCC), to learn about programs that would give her the support she needed to earn a diploma and jumpstart her career.
With the support of the adult education team at NEMCC, Megan completed the program and earned a High School Equivalency Diploma.
During her time at NEMCC, she learned about the Mississippi Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (MIBEST) program that would help her gain the skills she needed to be successful in the workplace. Megan enrolled in MIBEST and took on a full schedule of courses, as well as two online classes while holding down a part-time job as an in-home caregiver. But she was determined to complete the requirements to enroll in the LPN and RN programs at NEMCC.
She spent hours juggling school, family, and work duties, but it paid off. She earned a 4.0 GPA that semester, and she was accepted into both the LPN and RN programs at NEMCC.
Although the COVID-19 outbreak forced all NEMCC to deliver classes online, Megan stayed focus on her career goals. She continued her education and today is on the cusp of graduating with an Associate’s Degree in Nursing.
Megan’s story is proof of the rewards of hard work, perseverance, and the possibility to thrive despite adversity.