Vivian Ketchum counts down the days to June 30.
The 58-year-old will receive her high school diploma at a graduation ceremony at the University of Winnipeg next month. This is a moment that has been created for decades.
“I look forward to this stage,” she said.
Ketchum enrolled at the Adult Learning Center in Winnipeg last fall. She puts the grade in 11th grade and less than a year later she is ready to finish.
Although joyful, her graduation will be bitter. Ketchum was inspired to return to school by her son Tyler. He died in 2011 at the age of 24 after a devastating diagnosis of a brain tumor.
Vivian’s son Ketchum Tyler died in 2011 after a devastating diagnosis of a brain tumor. She recognizes it as her inspiration to return to school. (Image source: Vivian Ketchum)
In the days before Tyler’s death, he had a clear message for his mother.
He said, “Mom, I don’t want you to grieve for too long. I’ll be fine. Mom, you have to keep going. And that’s what I did when I went to apply, “she said.
Returning to the classroom was embarrassing at first, as Ketchum’s history with the school was unpleasant.
Ketchum, a descendant of Ojibwei, grew up in Kenora, Ont. She experienced racism and found school challenging. She left in ninth grade to support her family.
She had Tyler when she was 21 and the family moved to Winnipeg in the late ’90s to be close to the family.
It is difficult to find a stable, meaningful job without a high school diploma, she recalls. Ketchum, a single mother, found hard storage work in harsh conditions and a sales job that left her with little money to take home at the end of the day.
Every job was worth it, she said, to support her son.
“I remember taking on all those little jobs to make sure he had teachers, that he had clothes, school photos – everything I did to make sure he finished,” she said, “I thought , “Hey, if I can do this for him, I can do this for myself.
As it turned out, Ketchum’s return to school was a rewarding and surprising experience. As a child, she hated math. This time she stood out.
“I was getting 90,” she said.
“I think it’s because of how I’m taught math and everything else before. Classes (in adult education) are smaller. There is one more to one. Teachers are patient with you. ”
Even a brutal clash with COVID-19 in January could not shake her devotion to school work.
“I was sitting in the emergency room working on my math homework,” she said.
“I thought this would be the end of my school year, but then I managed to continue with distance learning.”
Ketchum said she has already received some job offers and is looking to work as a librarian in the future.
In addition, the diploma gives her important confidence to excel in the next chapter of her life and to continue to make her son proud.
“All my life I have heard words, directly or indirectly, that I am a stupid Indian. I can raise my head now. “
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