Being the youngest of 5 children, Marcia lived in poverty as her parents had divorced and her mother was unemployed. At the age of 12, Marcia's mother remarried and left Marcia in Windsor Housing with her two brothers who were in motorcycle gangs. Marcia continued in public school, attending a vocational post-secondary institution. When Marcia was 15 years old she moved in with her mother and her abusive, alcoholic step-father. At the age of 17, Marcia moved in with a friend. When she was leaving her mother told her "you will never make it" and Marcia replied "watch me".

Twenty six years later Marcia Atkins did make it. After being out of school for over 26 years, Marcia took up the challenge of participating in the high school equivalency (GED) program at WEST. Despite working as a cross-guard in the mornings and as a kitchen helper in the evenings, Marcia rarely missed classes. After 6 months and one re-write, Marcia Atkins attained her Graduate Equivalency Diploma on June 10, 2006.

Her instructor writes: "Marcia's success touched the lives of other women who dropped out of school and now want to get their diploma. Others in the class were even more motivated and encouraged to write their GED Exams, saying, "Marcia did it, we can do it too."

For Marcia, attaining her GED has made a difference in how she sees herself and consequently, how others see her. She is currently pursuing other employment enhancement progrmas at WEST in hopes of further qualifying herself for better employment.