Gloria Braly:  

I did not graduate from Forest Ave High. I attented the first year that they added the 8th grade and I was 14yrs old. I was from a broken home and was very rebelious and unhappy. I wrote a note saying that we were moving to Houston and requesting my records and signed my mother's name to it. I walked out without question. I met a 15yr old mexican boy and we got married and had 2 sons, divorced at age 17yrs. Remarried at age 18yrs, had 1 daughter, moved to California in 1964. Had a son. Total 4 children. Went to night school on and off for years, trying to get the diploma that I so sadly missed, but working, raising children and marriage problems always interfeared. (I applied to the Telephone Co. in Dallas, TX at age 18yrs and they refused to hire me without a deploma.) I was on my on at age 32 with my 14 and 10yr old and without income. I applied for Welfare,(which I was raised never to do!)But I planned to get off it as soon as possible. This was when Mr. Reagan was Governor and had started the WIN Programe to help people get training to get off Welfare. I jumped at the opportunity! I went to Adult High School in Sacramento, Calif. I also continuied to place applications for work. I received a call on the morning of my 33rd birthday,(a month after becoming a Grandmother by my oldest 17yr old son!)from the Telephone Co. offering me a job as an Installer-Repairperson. I declined, saying that I had the opportunity to finally get my diploma and I just couldn't pass up this chance. When I got to school that morning I told my math teacher what had accured. He was so upset with me and pointed to the students as they trailed into the room, saying, "These people are taking this class in order to pass the Telephone Co. Test that you have already passed. Let's go to the office and call them back so you can accept the job offer!", I told him that I wanted to finish school and get my diploma!, "Don't worry", he said, "we'll get your ...Expand for more