A student who has attained his General Educational Development (GED) diploma with help from the Gilmer Learning Center is going to use his degree to pursue a career in art animation.
Drake Sanborn, 18, of Ellijay, said that regular schoolwork became difficult for him a couple of years ago during COVID restrictions.
“It was at that time where everything was getting moved over to computers and online schooling, and I couldn’t keep up with it because I have ADHD and am also autism-spectrum disorder,” he explained. “It was just a lot more difficult to keep up with my learning disabilities, so we turned to the (Gilmer) Learning Center.”
Sanborn found a ready ally in senior teacher Dita Paukert, a longtime instructor at the center.
“She advised me what to work on and moved me over to the Blue Ridge center (known as FLAG, or Fannin Literacy Action Group),” he added. “After a month over there — catching me up and giving me (practice) tests to do just to see where I’m at and practicing — I took the test and passed!”
Sanborn said he tried the language arts and social studies sections first, then it was on to science and finally math.
“I passed all of them, only one time on each one,” he said of not having to test a second time on any section.
Sanborn was asked how his outlook for the future has changed.
“It feels pretty good, like a weight’s been lifted off,” he replied. “I feel like now I can do more things I want to do, and set things up like I want to — projects and stuff.”
Paukert noted Sanborn is “very independent, but he always told me when he was having a problem with something.”
“I would check up on him periodically, but most of the time, he was working independently on his computer program,” she said. “In some areas, he was ready (for a section) of the GED practice test. In other areas, he needed more work. I told him around Christmas I thought he was ready for the test, and then boom, boom, boom, boom, he got them all done.”
What are those future projects and plans?
“I’m thinking about waiting a year to start college to make some income for myself,” Sanborn detailed. “I’m planning on doing art in a job, and also taking art courses in college, for animation possibly, because being an artist is my main hobby.”
His mother, Megan Joannides, said, “I’m very proud of him and his accomplishment in graduating.”
For information about the GED and other adult education opportunities, contact the Gilmer Learning Center at 706-276-1110, or send a text to 706-669-6611 or (706) 669-1910. Located at 30 Southside Church St., it is part of the Public Health Department building next to Piedmont Mountainside ER. Hours can be arranged according to a student’s needs.