Living Beyond the Classroom: LAI Students Finding their Place in a Technological World



"It seemed like another world!" ~Judy Evans, LAI Student



Gazing at the double doors you would guess that what lay behind them was nothing more than a large storage closet. When Judy Evans, 52, opened the doors for the first time, she was shocked by what she found and what it meant for her future.

This will be Judy's second semester taking a computer class at Literacy Action. She continues to take the class because "everything is moving to technology. There is no more paper, everything is online." So, you can imagine her joy when she walked into the new LAI computer lab for the first time. The larger room, tables and chairs took her breath away, "it seemed like another world." Judy scanned the room quietly, sitting in the new chairs and examining the new tables. After a brief examination of the room Judy noticed the computers were nowhere to be found. She asked her teacher, Michael Northcross, when the computers were going to arrive. "When the teacher told me that the computers were in the tables I said 'this is too much!"

The biggest motivation for Judy is being able to use a computer without assistance. The irritated looks she receives when asking for help makes her loose confidence and feel self conscious. With the new computer lab, Judy feels that she will be more engaged and focused in the class, while the new computers will give her the practice she needs on upgraded software. "In the old lab the computers were nothing like the ones that you find outside of school. All computer programs look different and can be confusing."

Judy is determined to attend DeKalb Technical College in order to receive her nursing degree and she believes that taking computer and other classes at LAI will help her achieve that goal. "LAI motivates you and helps you believe in yourself. They tell you that you are not too old to achieve your goals and give you the confidence to succeed. Only I can stop myself from succeeding. LAI makes me feel like I can do it. I'm gonna finish. I'm gonna finish!"