St. Johnsbury Academy did a great thing. Sometimes independent schools are just good at doing what’s right- working without red tape. This thought and some shooing of our six year old ran through my head as I had a ‘driveway’ moment this past Tuesday evening listing to The Story- Dick Gordon’s public radio story that features two oral histories/narratives each weeknight.

“Grammy’s Diploma” is worth more than 20 minutes of quiet, still time. It’s about sacrifice, life’s twists and turns, and making the world better for those around you. 87 year old, Francese Cochran missed out on part of her formal schooling but she never lost the desire to learn and earn her diploma. Through the help of her family and St. Johnsbury Academy, she graduated from high school this spring.

The segment begins 32 minutes into the episode.

GRAMMY’S DIPLOMA
[podcast]http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_791_Almost_Silencing_The_Music.mp3[/podcast]