Sarah Gamble was honest about her past during the graduation ceremony for Butler County Community College’s free Adult Literacy program on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

As we learned in Wednesday’s edition of the Butler Eagle, Gamble, 33, was one of almost 30 people who earned their GED certificate this year. She shared the story of her journey, starting with her mother’s death when Gamble was 15, including dropping out of high school and dealing with substance abuse.

During her speech Tuesday, Gamble explained she hoped to build a better life for herself and be a good role model for her son.

“I also want to teach my son that no matter what failures you have in life — and believe me, I have enough for 10 lifetimes — that you can learn from every one of them and better yourself each time,” she said.

Gamble hopes to take college courses at BC3 so she can work with people struggling with substance abuse disorder, something she said is a dream job for her.

State Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th, spoke to the graduates and encouraged them to continue to try and create a more prosperous future for themselves.

“When you are handed a diploma this evening, picture it as being handed a key,” Mustello told the graduates, “a key that is capable of unlocking doors to a better future for you, and often those close to you. Most of you, if not all of you, will recognize these doors of opportunity in the coming years.”

Mustello is absolutely right — a diploma like a GED is the key to new opportunities and better pay.

The median salary in the U.S. for people without a high school diploma or equivalent was $35,500 in 2022, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics, compared to a median salary of $41,800 for those with a high school diploma or equivalent.

People leave high school without graduating for a wide range of reasons, but they all have one thing in common: It’s not too late to go back, and stories like those told Tuesday are an excellent example.

— JK