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Eric Quintanilla

National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week

National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week, September 23-29, helps bring attention to the more than 36 million adults in the United States who cannot read, write, or perform simple math calculations.

Parkland College Adult Education provides free basic literacy, English as a second language, and high school equivalency instruction to local adults and out-of-school youth. We support and encourage many students throughout the year who each have unique and compelling stories. Jacob Bernard is one example of whom we serve.

Jacob attended public school through the second grade. His mother then opted to meet his education needs with a homeschooling approach called the Unschooling Method. This method promotes non-structured, child-led learning with no set curriculum or schedule. Jacobs’s talents and interests guided his education toward film, photography, and video production. This approach did not require him to advance in mathematics beyond his second-grade instruction.

As a young man, Jacob recognized the need for some of the basic elements that were lacking in his education and determined that he would earn his GED. He began this pursuit in the fall of 2017, immersing himself in the learning materials his instructors taught and attended individual tutoring sessions. He passed all of his GED tests on his first attempt and earned his certificate on April 20, 2018.

Jacob currently works part time at Urbana Public Television (UPT) as a camera operator. He also works to create promotional videos for a company called MUTI, where he is responsible for production, coordination, scheduling, and shooting. Additionally, Jacob has done some work for WCIA as a freelance, camera operator. Finally, Jacob plans to continue his post-secondary education at Parkland College in the spring.

Parkland College Adult Education allowed Jacob the resources and tools to accomplish his goals, gain confidence and pursue his passion at a higher level. Literacy impacts every area of a person’s life. If you or someone you know would like to learn more about Parkland College Adult Education, please contact our office at (217) 351-2580 or adulteducation@parkland.edu. 

#AEFLWeek #AdultEDU

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CoauthorPaula Prather