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| Edith Jennings (center) recently earned her associate degree in nursing from Southwestern Community College. She is flanked by Judy Comer, SCC’s citizenship instructor, and Kay Wolf, who coordinates Southwestern’s English as a Second Language program. |
Adjusting to a new country took some getting used to for Edith Jennings.
The native of central Mexico found learning a new language particularly challenging after she moved to Western North Carolina with husband Brian Jennings.
It took an especially frustrating experience at a doctor’s office to ignite her passion for learning English.
“It was very difficult for me when we went to the doctor while I was pregnant,” Jennings recalled recently. “I wanted to say something, and my husband told me: ‘It’s no problem; I’ll translate for you.’ I told him, ‘It is a problem for me!’”
So Jennings promptly enrolled in English as a Second Language classes at Southwestern Community College. She later enrolled in college classes and eventually earned acceptance to one of SCC’s most-difficult programs: Nursing.
She graduated with her associate degree in May and will begin working toward her bachelor’s degree this fall at Western Carolina.
“English was very hard for me, and I was scared, but I went to all the (ESL) classes SCC offered in Franklin,” Jennings said. “They were very good classes, and the instructors were so good. …When I started taking college classes in 2010, I was afraid because of my English. But I did very well.
“It makes me so happy that I earned my degree,” Jennings added. “It was very hard work. I had to work hard to be successful.”
While working toward her associate degree, Jennings taught basic computer classes to ESL students at SCC – and she’s still doing so. The classes she teaches are funded by an El Civics grant, which was awarded to SCC in order to help students with pathways to employment.
With Jennings’ help, 12 students earned beginning certificates in basic computer classes while another 10 earned intermediate certificates.
“When we received the grant to help our ESL students with pathways to employment, I immediately thought of Edith,” said Kay Wolf, SCC’s ESL coordinator. “I knew she would be the perfect role model for our students. She has accomplished what for many can only be seen as a dream.”
After completing her bachelor’s degree, Jennings hopes to find employment at the Macon Health Department.
While doing her clinical work there recently, Jennings found that her bilingual skills were especially useful due to the increasing number of Spanish-speaking individuals in the area.
“I think being able to speak English and Spanish will help me a lot,” Jennings said. “I want to find a job where I can use that to help others.”
For more information about the ESL and educational opportunities programs at SCC, contact Wolf at 828.339.4262 ork_wolf@southwesterncc.edu.
