Vivian Ketchum is counting down the days to June 30th.
The 58-year-old will receive her high school diploma at a graduation ceremony at the University of Winnipeg next month. It is a moment that has been going on for decades.
“I look forward to crossing that stage,” he said.
Ketchum enrolled at the Winnipeg Adult Education Center last fall. An assessment placed her in 11th grade and less than a year later, she is ready to graduate.
Though cheerful, her graduation will also be bittersweet. Ketchum was inspired to return to school by her son Tyler. He died in 2011 at the age of 24 after a devastating diagnosis of brain tumor.
Vivian Ketchum’s son Tyler died in 2011 after a devastating diagnosis of brain tumor. She credits him as her inspiration to go back to school. (Image source: Vivian Ketchum)
In the days leading up to Tyler’s death, he had a clear message for his mother.
He said, “Mom, I don’t want to hurt you for too long. I’ll be fine. Mom, you have to keep going. And that was what I was doing when I went to apply, “he said.
Going back to the classroom was intimidating at first, as Ketchum’s history with the school was unpleasant.
Ketchum, who is of Ojibway descent, grew up in Kenora, Ont. He experienced racism and found school to be a challenge. He dropped out of ninth grade to help support his family.
He had Tyler when he was 21 and the family moved to Winnipeg in the late 1990’s to be close to his family.
He recalled that it was difficult to find a stable and meaningful job without a high school diploma. Ketchum, who was a single mother, found grueling warehouse work in difficult conditions and sales work that left her with little money to take home at the end of the day.
Every job was worth it, he said, to support his son.
“I remember doing all those little chores to make sure I had tutors, that I had clothes, school photos, everything I did to make sure I graduated,” he said, “I thought,‘ Hey, if I can do it for him. , I can do it for myself ‘”.
As it turned out, Ketchum’s return to school was a rewarding and amazing experience. As a child, I hated math. This time, he stressed.
“I was in my 90s,” he said.
“I think it was because I was taught math and everything else before. The classes (in adult education) are smaller. There are more than one at a time. The teachers are patient with you. “.
Not even a brutal attack with COVID-19 in January could shake his devotion to his schoolwork.
“I was sitting in the emergency room doing my math homework,” she said.
“I thought it would be the end of my school year, but then with distance learning I was able to keep up.”
Ketchum said she has already received some job offers and aspires to work as a librarian in the future.
In addition, her diploma gives her an important confidence to excel in the next chapter of her life and to continue to make her son feel proud.
“All my life I have heard words, directly or indirectly, that I am a dumb Indian. Now I can lift my head. “