Tiarra Matthews

My name is Tiarra and I am seventeen years old. Honestly, I always liked school, but for the wrong reasons. I went to school to hang out and have fun. I wish I knew then what I know now. I never skipped class, but while I was there I was always more interested in what was going on in the hallways.

I don’t know what really made me stop going to school. I thought I had better things to do with my time. I wasn’t getting good grades at all in high school. I repeated the ninth grade and around November I stopped going. I really didn’t realize that I had dropped out; I always said I was going to go, but the days kept passing by. I know how important my education is and I think people should learn something every day, academically or even scientifically.

Now that I’ve come to EOYDC I know that school and fun don’t go together. You have to go to school and really do it, not entertain yourself. In my college years I plan to do school while I’m at school and do “me” after school. Of course, you’ll meet people there and I hope to meet lots of wonderful people. I will socialize with them after school, not in class.

Ms. Anana taught me a lot about school and life. I’m not going to forget anything she told me about men and how to treat myself. I hope she doesn’t forget me either. Ms. Jackie, Ms. Regina, Ms. Jasmine, the ladies at the front desk and of course the computer guy, thank you everybody at the East Oakland Youth Development Center. I won’t forget what you’ve taught me.


Tiarra Matthews
2010 GED Graduate