SAVANNAH — Christian Manuel, 20, of Riceboro is the first student to earn his GED at the Savannah Technical College Adult Education Center in Riceboro.
Manuel said he left school in the ninth grade but was determined to do more with his life.
“I was always getting into trouble in school,” he said. “With this, I just put my mind to it and completed the class work in less than three months.”
The youngest of six children, Christian and his family moved to Riceboro from Louisiana eight years ago. He said he looks forward to a military career.
He plans to participate in the Savannah Technical College graduation ceremony May 24.
“The best thing about earning my GED is proving to myself that I can succeed,” Manuel said. His teacher agrees.
Marilyn Creech-Harris taught his math classes and said she admires the way he applied himself to his studies.
“Mr. Manuel was an excellent student, always focused on his work,” she said.
In fiscal year 2010, Savannah Tech graduated more than 1,000 students who earned GEDs, enrolled more than 2,300 students in adult education and English as a second language programs and provided more than 150,000 hours of instruction to GED and ESL students.
The Savannah Technical College Adult Education program began offering classes at the Riceboro Youth Center last September.
Classes are taught from 9 a.m.-noon and from 6-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday. For information, call 884-4984.