Neighbor Newspapers - Clayton Neighbor - Clayton, Georgia
August 05, 2002   
        
Second chance: Griggs finally gets diploma
                                
By Roger RyDell Daniels
Neighbor Staff Writer
                   
Virginia Griggs graduated from high school in June, proudly walking across the 
stage to accept her diploma. Sounds simple, right? Maybe not. Ms. Griggs is 67, 
and she is legally blind.

Ms. Griggs lost her sight at the age of 57 in 1993 because of complications with 
diabetes. She was looking to advance her education and build her self-esteem 
when she was recommended to the Center for the Visual Impaired in Atlanta, who 
recommended her to the Hadley School For the Blind. She enrolled for classes 
with Hadley in 2000 and began working toward the goal of obtaining her high 
school diploma.

"Between 1993 and now, I had very low self-esteem," Ms. Griggs said. "I feel 
that I can do anything now. It's unexplainable, I feel like a brand new person."

Ms. Griggs traveled to Hadley's Winnetka, Ill. location to receive her diploma 
and speak at the event. "Hadley has helped me gain independence in so many 
ways," Ms. Griggs said. "I am very proud and honored to be a graduate of the 
Hadley School for the Blind."

Hadley, a long-distance education school, sent Ms. Griggs course material at her 
home, she returned the completed lessons to the instructor by mail. All classes 
at Hadley are free. According to Hadley officials, Ms. Griggs completed 10 
courses, all qualified toward her diploma. Ms. Griggs was one of only six 
students to receive a high school diploma and this was the first time Hadley 
held a commencement ceremony for the graduates.

Now Ms. Griggs plans to attend college. In fact, she will enroll at Clayton 
College & State University in Morrow this fall. "Classes begin on Aug. 19. I 
don't know how many classes I'll take, but I'm taking some," Ms. Griggs said. "I 
want to get into computers and maybe get a job working from home with 
computers."

Ms. Griggs is also looking forward to celebrating her 50th wedding anniversary 
in August. She and her husband, Edward, have four children, two boys and two 
girls. She spends her spare time with her five grandchildren and one great-
grandchild. "My dream has come true," she said. "I married at 17 while I was a 
junior in high school, and I always wanted to finish."