WOMAN CHANGES LIFE WITH EDUCATION

VALDOSTA ­ Debbie Dowdell believes that if she can change the
direction of one person's life then she has succeeded.

Dowdell's life is one marked with obstacles ­ barriers that despite
the odds she has overcome and still managed to keep a smile on her face.

This year Valdosta Technical College selected her to be the 2009
EAGLE Representative at the EAGLE Leadership Institute in February.

EAGLE stands for Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education.
Dowdell said she was nominated by her VTC Adult Education teacher Betty Howell.

The two became close during class and afterwards when the pair would
share their life stories.

Dowdell, an Albany native, moved to Valdosta three years ago to
escape an environment that was slowly killing her through drug addiction.

To remove herself from the drugs, Dowdell moved and sought help at a
treatment center.

Clean for two years, Dowdell hopes to continue to tell her story of
hope in a way that will encourage others to finish their education
and make a positive impact on themselves and others.

At 17 years old, Dowdell quit school when she became pregnant with
twins, had another child at 19 and married at 21.

She had no time to contemplate an education.

Drugs pushed the endeavor even further from her mind.

"I knew I needed to make a 360-degree turn," Dowdell said. "I would
have died from the addiction. I wanted to break the cycle."

After getting clean, Dowdell said she discovered that she had hopes
and goals that could now be achieved.

Dowdell's housing manager told her about a job with the South Health
District. She was interested in the position but was told she would
need a GED to be considered.

Thus began Dowdell's career at VTC. Dowdell hopes to pass her test in
February but started her job as a peer advocate at the South Health
District in November.

"No matter what trials or tribulations a person goes through, they
still got a chance to get an education," Dowdell said.

She loves her job as peer advocate and has been forced to go home
because she has tried to work while battling an illness.

"I've gotten so use to working. It's been nine years since I've
worked," Dowdell said. "And I love what I do. I help give back what
God gave me."

Her story has also encouraged one of her children to go back to
school, and her clean lifestyle has allowed her to lavish more
attention on her five grandchildren.

"Only by the grace of God am I sitting here today," Dowdell said.

Two other women that Dowdell met in the treatment center have begun
courses to earn their GEDs as well, she said.

Though Dowdell only hoped to encourage one person to succeed, she has
inspired many more, who hopefully will inspire others.

"God has been so miraculous in my life," Dowdell said.

She credits her co-workers and fellow members of Mount Calvary
Baptist Church with helping her find her way.

"In the treatment center, we learned that we keep what we have by
giving it away," Dowdell said.

Dowdell will represent VTC at the EAGLE Leadership Institute Feb.
11-13, 2009, in Atlanta.

EAGLE is the first statewide program in the nation that recognizes
and rewards excellence among students enrolled in adult education programs.

The program is designed to create greater awareness of educational
opportunities that are available in local communities across the
state and to foster greater involvement in lifelong learning pursuits.

The Leadership Institute recognizes and honors those students who
have demonstrated superior achievement in adult education classes and programs.