Fort High’s oldest grad proud of her achievement

Half-a-century after missing her grade 12 exams, 65-year-old Jacqueline Garriock was back, taking part in the Fort High graduation ceremony inside the new arena of the Memorial Sports Centre last Thursday night.
“I turned 65 in May and I graduated high school in June,” said Garriock.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” she stressed. “It’s been 50 years since I’ve been in school but I thought why not?”
Fifty years ago, Jacqueline Garriock (nee O’Connell) was part of the student body attending the old Fort Frances High School on First Street East. She was studying with only a few weeks to go before her final grade 12 exams when she was struck by the unexpected.
“I had a ruptured appendix and I couldn’t do them,” she recalled.
She missed the exams, falling four credits short of a high school diploma.
“Right after that, I got a job in telephone. When you called, I said, ‘What number please,’” she laughed as she described the old phone system and switchboard operators.
Garriock also soon married and had five children. “I was just busy raising my family and that was important to me,” she said.
But now that her children are long grown up, Garriock decided it was about time she finish what she’d started and chose four credits through the high school’s alternative education program–including parenting.
“Mr. McKay said I could have written the book,” she laughed.
Garriock also successfully completed English, merchandising, and math. “English I aced, math was the most difficult,” she remarked.
Initially, she planned on taking a computer course but it was only offered at the high school, which was too difficult for Garriock, who walks with a cane.
“I did all my work at home. I picked up my lessons and went home and did them,” she said.
When the big day came, Garriock proudly walked across the arena floor with her fellow graduates. She was this year’s oldest Fort High graduate.
“I’m just a stubborn old lady. I was determined I was going to do that. I’ve gone this far,” she stressed.
Garriock also received an outstanding achievement bursary along with her diploma, which now hangs on her living room wall.
“It’s right up there where everyone can see it,” she said.
“My children are so proud of me for doing this. My one daughter was so proud of me, she cried and had to leave,” she added.