Senior achieves lifelong goal of earning GED certificate at 84
Leard Bell learned at an early age the importance of an education. After his father left his mother in 1944, Bell had to drop out of school at 14 years old to help support his mother and three siblings. He took on various odd jobs, including shining shoes. But finishing school was always something he had in the back of his mind.
“I knew my education was important, but I had to go to work because we were a poor family and they depended on me,” Bell says. “I always wanted to finish school, but I never had the time.”
“I cried when I walked on stage at my graduation ceremony because it meant so much to me.”
Leard Bell, Centinela Valley Adult School GED program graduate
Shortly after he dropped out, Bell found his calling when his mother brought home a used set of drums she found for him. He practiced every chance he could and started playing with some local musicians. Word quickly spread of his talent, and he ended up becoming a soughtafter session player. Bell was able to support himself and his family by playing with some of the hottest rhythm and blues artists of the time, including Little Richard, Sam Cooke and Etta James. But as the years went by, Bell says his education was still important to him.
In 1968, Bell decided to leave the music business and began working as a delivery truck driver at Los Angeles International Airport. He worked there for 37 years until he retired in 2005. After retirement, he finally had the time to finish school and began looking into adult school programs.
Bell says finding a school was easy, but the transition back into a classroom after 70 years was not.
“When you get older, your memory is just not as good,” Bell says. “I was taking a GED preparation class at a different adult school in South Los Angeles, but I wasn’t keeping up. The first test I took was high on science and writing, but my math was real low. I heard about the program at Centinela Valley Adult School from a friend and decided to go there instead.”
Bell says he could instantly see a difference in the learning environment at Centinela. The teachers were much more hands-on, working with students one-on-one to make sure they were prepared for the GED test. Bell says his math teacher, Race Headen, was instrumental in helping him.
“He would come and sit at the table and catch when you made mistakes and tell you how to do it the right way,” Bell says. “He even called me during the winter break to see how I was feeling. About nine months after I started there, I felt good enough to take the test and passed.”
Bell says earning his GED certificate was one of the proudest moments in his life.
“It was a big boost for me and a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders,” Bell says. “I cried when I walked on stage at my graduation ceremony because it meant so much to me. I’m happy I finally did it.”
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Written by Mike Blount
| Regions | Classes |
|---|---|
| South Coast California | High School |
