WASHINGTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark — It's a testament that the past doesn't have to define your future. Washington County Sheriff's Office celebrated Anthony Smith's efforts to further his education.
With the help of multiple adult education programs, Smith earned his General Educational Development (GED) diploma, which is equivalent to a high school diploma in the United States.
"I was just looking forward to the opportunity to further my education," Smith said. "I want to be able to get into college, start a career, hoping that's going to help me with my life."
He's in jail for failing to appear in a shoplifting case. Smith has a court date this November.
The detention center's GED program was shut down in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but restarted last fall. With dreams of going to college on his mind, Smith is now in the Workforce Alliance for Growth in the Economy program, also known as Wage.
It's a 12-week program with class sizes ranging from seven to 10 people for both women and men.
"Any opportunity I have right now I will take advantage of," Smith said. "I'm just trying to keep my mind fresh before I go into college. I've reviewed the courses for NWACC and things like that, so I'm kind of interested in that."
Jessica Ferguson is the instructor for the Wage and GED programs, and she's going into her second year of teaching at the detention center. The adult education program is through Fayetteville Public Schools, which the sheriff's office partners with.
"We teach workforce readiness skills, interviewing skills, resume writing skills, budgeting, and life skills," Ferguson said. "We hadn't done this in a while, but I think it's been very successful."
Ferguson said the GED program has classes Monday through Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. It's self-paced to individual needs.
"We work with students in social studies, science, math, and language, and while class is happening, we assess where they are," she said. "We have interactive lessons. They have homework. It's pretty intensive, and it runs forever. For some students, it can take them weeks to get their GED or their high school equivalency, and some can take them years. So it kind of depends on their placement in the beginning."
For Smith, it took him just a few months to complete.
"He really was a great person to have in this pilot program," Ferguson said. "His diligence and his work ethic really resulted in his success, and I think he's a good example for the other students who are up and coming in the program ... I think that they're really interested because of his success. He's got a bright future. I think he's interested in some college, and we're going to help him try to achieve those goals."
Smith said he's grateful for the teachers and this program because it gives him a second chance in life.
"It's a way not to waste your time, especially getting to do things to prepare for the future," Smith said. "[Being in jail] is kind of a setback. It's like I've lost some time, but to be able to gain some time at the same time is really nice. I'd like to see this program stay. Obviously, people need a second chance."
The second year of the GED program will start on Sept. 4. Three men and women are already signed up to start the course. The education programs are designed to help with recidivism.
"We know that education helps with recidivism, and we really, we really believe that education is the way to a better future," Ferguson said.
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