For more than 80 years, Ms. Edna Sanders carried a dream that was repeatedly placed on hold as she devoted her life to caring for others. This June, that lifelong dream finally became a reality.
Growing up in South Carolina, Ms. Edna, her six siblings, and their mother worked in the cotton fields. Although the work was difficult, her family was close. Everything changed when her mother died at just 35 years old. As a teenager, Ms. Edna took on the responsibility of raising her younger brothers and sisters, lovingly referring to them as “her kids.”
At about 16 years old, she moved to New York City to live with a family friend before eventually settling in the Binghamton area. She first worked in a well-known shoe factory, where her strong work ethic caught the attention of recruiters at IBM. During her 25-year career at IBM, she supported not only herself but also the siblings back home, helping them remain in school and earn their diplomas.
Ms. Edna also raised her own children as a single mother. For decades, her focus remained on making sure everyone else had the opportunities she had sacrificed.
About a year ago, that finally changed. An avid reader, Ms. Edna noticed a flyer for GED classes during one 
of her visits to the George F. Johnson Memorial Library. She enrolled in the Broome-Tioga BOCES GED/High School Equivalency program, where she dedicated more than 160 hours to her studies.
On June 22, Ms. Edna earned her GED. Five days later, she proudly received her high school diploma with 295 members of the UEHS Class of 2026. At 81, she is oldest graduate in her class. Her determination serves as a powerful reminder that learning is a lifelong journey and that it is never too late to pursue a dream.