Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Rae-Edzo ( Jun 12/00) - Two decades after quitting school the first time, three women are preparing to graduate from high school.

It's a busy, and somewhat confusing, time for Madeline Zoe, Francis Erasmus and Mary Rose Mantla, members of Chief Jimmy Bruneau school's class of 2000.

Erasmus and Mantla returned to finish their secondary school education two years ago, while Zoe went back three years ago.

All remember what it was like to step back into the classroom after so long.

"It was like being in kindergarten," Erasmus said Thursday. "Confused, totally lost, not knowing what's going on."

Erasmus quit school after Grade 8, in 1970. Zoe had been out of school 24 years, completing Grade 9. Mantla quit in 1971, leaving with just a Grade 7 education.

A big reason Erasmus returned was her daughter, Lillian, who was in Grade 12.

As well, she wanted to "improve my skills I missed out on during the years I never attended school."

Mantla credited Erasmus for encouraging her to earn a diploma.

"When I came here, I just thought I'd try it out for a couple of months and see how it was," Mantla said. "Then I just got into it. I just want to thank all the teachers for encouraging us to be here. They helped us a lot."

Feeling good, feeling young

Zoe said she feels good about going back. "Being among the young ones, you feel like you're young again."

Eighteen-year-old Rae grad Martina Zoe-Martin agreed. "I'll see these ladies, (and) they'll be sitting like teenagers and all that."

"They'll just laugh and joke and help people with their homework," Zoe-Martin said. "They were older but they were young in their hearts."

Principal Rita Mueller said having the three adult students at the school has been a positive experience. In recent years, the school has tried to have adults return to finish their diplomas. She said Erasmus, Zoe and Mantle brought "positive change" among the student body.

"We need to see more of that," Mueller said.

Zoe-Martin admitted she didn't want to graduate this year until she saw the example set by Erasmus, Zoe and Mantla.

"I thought: 'It's good they're graduating, I might as well graduate now.' Plus, I came to see how important graduating is, and that I should pursue school and graduate because we need leaders in our community."

Zoe-Martin said when Erasmus, Zoe and Mantla graduate June 24, "It'll be a special moment for everyone."

All three women are considering attending Aurora College this fall.