Sisters, ages 39 and 34, earn diplomas

Mardi Suhs | Cadillac News Sisters Marcie Wilson, 34 and Tonia Shoop, 39, fulfilled a promise they each made to their mom before she died of cancer in 1993 Ñ they finished high school and earned their diplomas.

CADILLAC — Sisters Tonia Shoop and Marcie Wilson are wives and working mothers who struggle to earn enough money to give their children the better things in life.

On Tuesday, the women took a step towards improving their futures when they walked across the stage in gold caps and gowns to receive their high school diplomas.

Both Tonia and Marcie were high school dropouts in the 1980s.

To look at them now, each well-mannered, articulate and responsible, it’s hard to imagine them as teenage troublemakers.

“We weren’t quite as bad as some of the kids are now days,” said Tonia, 39. “I ended up pregnant. I didn’t hate school but it was really hard. I liked hanging out with my friends. I didn’t get along with some of the teachers. I did not like authority figures.”

Marcie, four years younger, looked up to her older sister and soon followed in her footsteps. She too became a high school dropout, married and started a family.

“I was trying to do the right thing for my child and I just never went back to school,” Marcie explained.

Before their mom died of cancer in 1993, the girls each promised to finish their high school education. But raising young children and working made it difficult to find the time. Tonia has three children and is the assistant manager of Brite n’ Clean Laundry. Marcie, the mother of five, prepares taxes and just started working at the laundry with her sister.

Tonia decided that to pursue a career with health insurance benefits, she would need her high school diploma. She enrolled in Cooley Adult Education last fall “for self gratification and to better myself in my career.” Marcie followed in the spring.

“I actually didn’t mind any of it,” confessed Tonia with surprise. “I love that teacher David Bunce. He made it enjoyable.”

Encouraged by their children, who often helped with homework, the sisters made their way through math, science and global studies.

“It took a lot of courage to go back,” Marcie, 34, admitted. “But we thought it would be cool to have sisters graduate together.”

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Graduating sisters

The CAPS Adult Education Commencement ceremony was held Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Cadillac High School auditorium. After opening comments by Jim Hunt, director of Adult Education, and guest speaker David Darrow, the dean of General Education at Baker College, 42 adult education graduates received their diplomas and seven received their GED certificates.

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