James Flowers

Southern Union student changes life’s course with GED

James Flowers wanted to change the course of his life, and he knew he would have to further his education to do it.

Flowers dropped out of high school, and spent 13 years as a carpenter. But he wanted a more stable job – maybe even own his own business. So he turned to the adult education department at Southern Union State Community College. "I’ve wanted to get my GED for some time, and I decided it was now or never," Flowers said.

He received his GED, but the diploma did much more. It left Flowers brimming with newfound confidence. "I now have a lot of faith in my ability to learn,” he says. “Getting my GED opened a lot of doors for me."

Indeed it has. He has a job at a Wal-Mart distribution center, and thanks to a scholarship awarded by the adult education department, Flowers is again at SU, this time working toward earning a business degree. Traditionally, the graduate who has the highest score on the GED test receives a scholarship to the college.

And the accolades keep coming. Gov. Bob Riley awarded him the state’s first Career Readiness Certificate at the Alabama Worker Credentialing Summit last year. He also received the top gold-level certificate for the score he achieved on Alabama WorkKeys, a test administered by the state to measure a person’s skill level with those entry level skills sought after by many employers.

"This has really been a positive experience for me," Flowers said. "With the right attitude, you can accomplish anything."