Chicago transplants work to earn GED diplomas in Prior Lake later in life

Prior Lake American

Though it’s been more than 30 years since either of them attended high school, Prior Lake residents Sallie and Richard Myers are working to earn their GED diplomas.

The husband and wife attend adult basic education classes held as part of the SouthWest Metro Educational Cooperative. While most classes are offered in Chaska and Shakopee, Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools has maintained its own site at Hidden Oaks Middle School.

“It’s hard when these kids come to you and say, ‘Granddad, do you know this?’ or ‘Granddad, can I do this?’ or ‘Granddad, can you help me with this?’ and you don’t want to say, ‘I don’t know how,’” Richard said.

It’s been a long journey for Sallie and Richard, who are 68 and 57 years old, respectively.

Chicago

Though they got married two years ago, the Myers have known each other since they were younger and living on the southern side of Chicago. At one point, they lived in the Robert Taylor Homes, a housing project notorious for drugs and violence, including gang activity.

“It’s hard in Chicago — it’s very hard in Chicago,” Richard said. “I just had to stop hanging out with the wrong people.”

Richard said he was shot four times and stabbed once, each time by people who mistook him for his brother, as they looked similar. Sallie said she would call ahead to check that police were in the neighborhood before leaving her job at 9:30 p.m. each night because once the police left, the shootouts started and it wasn’t safe to be outside.

“Through the grace of God, we made it through Chicago,” Richard said. “We’ve seen a lot. I got tired of being shot all the time. ... Minnesota saved my life. I didn’t have to worry about nobody shooting over my head, no robberies, nobody running past me with guns or all that stuff.”

Richard dropped out of school in 10th grade and Sallie in 11th.

“I just didn’t want to go to school,” Sallie said. “I just wanted to hang out with my friends. ... My 19-year-old granddaughter graduated and I cried. I should have did it when I was 19, but I got another chance to make it right.”

Sallie was good friends with Richard’s older brothers. When she was 27 and he was 17, Richard had a crush on her and used to watch her play softball with her friends. However, the pair grew apart and 15 years ago, Richard moved to Minnesota whereas Sallie stayed in Chicago.

Then, a few years ago, Richard found Sallie again on the internet and sent her a message. That message turned into numerous conversations and the conversations turned into visits and the visits turned into falling in love.

“It was supposed to be a friendship,” Richard said. “I opened that window (in her apartment) one day and I saw her walking to work in the wintertime in the snow — cold outside — and I said to myself, ‘Never again would she have to walk.’ She’d been walking all her life.”

He proposed, and Sallie moved to Minnesota.

“I’m glad to be here in Minnesota,” Sallie said. “I have a beautiful life now. I’m happy. I’m content. I don’t have to look over my shoulders anymore. ... I got beautiful scenery. ... I was a mess, I really was. I’m a good mess now.”

Minnesota

Sallie took night classes at Kennedy-King College in Chicago and earned her associate degree, but she can’t receive it until she has her GED dimploma.

Sallie said she decided to earn the diploma after her granddaughter dropped out of school and she was trying to convince her to go back.

“It’s time,” Sallie said. “I’m 68 years old, I’m not getting younger. ... When I inspired her, I inspired myself.”

Now, that granddaughter has a master’s degree. Sallie said she plans to get her GED diploma before she turns 70.

Once she moved to Minnesota, the couple started taking the free adult basic education classes in Prior Lake. It used to be across from the couple’s house, until the program moved to Hidden Oaks Middle School.

Now, the couple catches a ride from a volunteer for one day of the classes each week (it’s offered three days), though there are hiatuses — they haven’t been able to go for a while as Sallie broke three ribs in March and has been recovering. The classes are taught by an assistant, four volunteers and one paid teacher.

“For the seven or eight months we’ve been in there, I’ve really grown in my education due to the fact that the GED means a lot to me right now and I’m going to get that diploma no matter how much I have to try,” Richard said. “I could have had it a long time ago, but I quit so many times.”

Richard said he was inspired to go back to school by his kids. He has eight kids and the majority of them received their high school diplomas.

“When I look at older people getting their high school diploma ... if they can do it, I can do it,” Richard said. “It just took a little time with me, because I was always taking care of somebody ... I never had a chance to take time off for myself.”

Richard said he wants to be able to sit with his grandchildren and help them with his homework.

“I have 29 grand kids,” Richard said. “I look forward to being with them at the table one day and being able to say, ‘I can help you with that.’ That’s what I want to do in life.”

After he earns his GED diploma, Richard said his next step is to become a singer.

“I want to complete my courses right now and I want to be able to hold that certificate in my hand and say I challenged myself — I really did,” Richard said. “It takes a lot to learn a lot ... but you don’t stop there. You have to know your next step.”

For now, the couple will continue to attend the classes and in the meantime, enjoy Minnesota, their lives, their neighbors, their church and their family — which includes 10 kids, 40 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren collectively.

“I love Minnesota,” Richard said. “It has some beautiful people. They help you, they talk to you, they got you in the right way, spiritual ways. ... We all listen because we all have been somewhere. We had to make changes in our lives and only God can do that for you.”

“Amen,” Sallie said.