Ronald Jones began attending Lenoir Community College as a Basic Skills student in January 2007. He was was one of 14 children and because there were so many siblings who needed his care, he quit school to provide for the family.
Jones did as his father had done before him; he felt bringing in an extra income was more important than attending school. He took various jobs, working in chicken houses, harvesting tobacco, picking cucumbers and blueberries, any job that would contribute to the family’s income.
His mother encouraged all of her children to go to school, but if her children did not attend school, she insisted that they get a job. Getting her children to work was how she prevented them from getting into trouble. His mother, according to Jones, was a loving mother and her love and dedication has helped to mold him into the man he is today. Jones sacrificed his education to provide for his siblings; all of them finished high school.
Life before literacy was horrifying for Jones. He said he felt he had to live a lie. Simple things that most people take for granted, like ordering a meal in a restaurant, was difficult and confusing. He would always order the same meal at a restaurant. Even if he didn’t like the meal, he would eat it to avoid the embarrassment of letting someone know he could not read.
The pencil was more frightening than any weapon. He was petrified if someone handed him a pen or pencil to fill out a form. Jones recalled that on one day he went to the post office to get a money order. Because he knew the staff would expect him to fill out a form, he faked a sore hand by covering it with a stocking. Once in the post office he asked the lady at the counter to fill out the form, and once again he escaped embarrassment. He knew that he could not continue to hide his illiteracy. He knew that he would eventually be caught and his secret began to worry him. What was worse, new technologies were being integrated into his job, and he knew that eventually he would have to understand and operate within those new technologies.
Due to new advances in the workplace and his experience of being around motivated and positive people, Jones decided he was going to accomplish something he had always wanted to do, learn to read. He wanted to become a literate man. He had watched his two daughters, Patrice and Maticia, excel throughout high school and college. Now it was his turn. He wanted to be proud of himself and prove to his family that he could learn to read and excel academically.
He came to LCC after talking with Tom Salter, a member of the LCC Board of Trustees. An educator and retired principal, Salter encouraged Jones to register for Basic Skills classes. Jones was introduced to a personal tutor, Ann Warren. She volunteered her time to work with him, one-on-one. After a few months of tutoring, he entered an ABE class on campus. Like a sponge, he absorbed all the reading materials offered to him. It was no easy feat for a man who worked third shift and more than 40 hours per week.
"Through God’s help and my determined attitude I chose not to give up," he said. In August of 2007, Jones was tested and scored a 3.8 grade level in reading. He had accomplished his dream of literacy.
While at LCC he said he has enjoyed the challenges and experiences he has encountered. The best part of his experience, he said, are caring teachers, like Misty Wiggins, who support him in following his dreams. The respect and encouragement of other students toward Jones is extraordinary. Many of his classmates will readily assist him if he needs them. In fact, nine-year old Mason Wiggins, Wiggins' son, is so impressed with Jones' courage and dedication that he sends words of encouragement and reading materials to him.
Jones has set other goals as well. He intends to continue learning and he plans to complete his GED at LCC. "I realize that learning is a life long process," he said, "and the future holds no limits if you're dedicated to your goals." |
