Molinda Henry beamed out at the boisterous crowd last night at Memorial Union for the Odyssey Project's graduation ceremony. Henry is a 48-year-old mother of two who, like all Odyssey students, had struggled with economic hardship.
"Before this class, I didn't consider myself a reader," she told the gathering. "And now I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!"
The crowd cheered delightedly. Henry was one of nearly 30 students graduating from But the one who brought down the house was 71-year-old Juanita Wilson. She'd always told her children and grandchildren that "college is mandatory," but never felt she was smart enough to go herself. She cried as she addressed the crowd.
"Before Odyssey, I always felt like an outsider," Wilson said. "I now feel like I can contribute to the conversation and am no longer a slow learner. I feel blessed."
Her classmates could relate.
