Ex-teacher never stopped learning
Helen Neal
Age: 81
Occupation: Retired elementary school teacher
Where did you receive your education?
Langston University in Oklahoma; West Texas State University.
How has your education played a role in your life today?
It helped me get a job that paid a decent wage.
What was your greatest educational challenge and how did you overcome it?
It was finishing school at West Texas State. When I returned after about 13 years out of college, I had a husband, four kids and a dog.
I went to school, came home, fixed dinner. I got up about 5 a.m. each morning to study and studied while my children were in school.
What is the value of your education?
It gives a different outlook on life. I was always someone who read a lot. Learning didn't stop at graduation.
What would you say to someone who's undecided about continuing their education?
You need to make education a priority if you want to get a decent job and have a decent outlook on life. Sometimes no education makes your world a small place. If you get an education, your world can expand. You've got to be ready for what life has in store for you.
When did you make education a priority?
From the early days of my life. My parents and grandparents thought education was necessary.
What made you realize the importance of education in your life?
My parents, grandparents and teachers.
Did you ever think about quitting? What made you keep going?
I never thought about quitting. Even when I stopped going to college to have a family, returning was always in the back of my mind. Three years of college wasn't enough to get a job.
