On Wednesday, May 17, 76 Gwinnett Tech students walked across the commencement stage to become GED graduates, many of whom reached the milestone only after overcoming great adversity.

» RELATED: Here are the 2017 AJC Cup winners

With the help of a Gwinnett County judge, one student left behind a life of drug abuse and toxic relationships to earn her GED.

When Darlene Driscoll, 31, was in middle school, she was kicked out and eventually left home.

As her life got out of hand, she ended up at Gwinnett County’s drug court where she met Judge Kathy Schrader.

» RELATED: Gwinnett Tech student gets first-ever grant for single moms in school

As part of a recovery and remediation plan, Driscoll earned her GED at Gwinnett Tech, mentored by Schrader herself.

Schrader cheered from the audience as her mentee walked across the stage last week.

“Judge Schrader believed in me in ways I didn’t believe in myself. She believed I could do it, when I was certain I couldn’t. She pushed me and showed me I could,” Driscoll said.

To people who think they can’t achieve something due to their age, she said, “I am living proof it’s never too late.”

» RELATED: Gwinnett Tech graduate overcomes rare, life-threatening cancer to earn GED

About the Author

Keep Reading

A bus waits to move over 20 unhoused persons from the Old Wheat Street encampment to the Welcome House, Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Hendren

Featured

Rebecca Ramage-Tuttle, assistant director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia, says the the DOE rule change is “a slippery slope” for civil rights. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC