MIDDLEBURY — This past Tuesday, when Vermont Adulting Learning’s Middlebury center hosted a graduation ceremony for students who have earned their high school diploma, or General Equivalency Diploma (GED), among the honorees was Amarah Lathrop.

A 16-year-old Middlebury native, Lathrop spent most of her life studying in the Addison Central School District. She attended Mary Hogan Elementary School and was at Middlebury Union Middle School during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“After COVID, my anxiety got worse, and it was difficult for me to be around people after we came back to in-person school,” she said.

She attended Middlebury Union High School until about a year ago, when she dropped out because of mental health reasons and concerns about falling behind. She opted to switch to homeschooling and eventually decided to prepare for the Vermont GED exam. After months of studying, she was able to pass the exam this summer.

“I’ve always been independent, so this way was a lot better for me. I could study whatever I needed to, so if I needed help with a subject, I could just take time to focus on that. I liked being able to go at my own pace,” Lathrop said.

Lathrop thrived with Vermont Adult Learning because the program gave her the opportunity to be in total control of her education. She got one-on-one attention from tutors and the flexibility to create her own learning plans. This positive sentiment is mutual, as VAL tutors have expressed delight in working with Lathrop.

“She is really bright and incredibly motivated,” said tutor Ashlee Monk. “Her thoughtfulness is unparalleled; she is a quick learner who sets goals and does whatever she can to meet those goals.”

Lathrop looks forward to attending Vermont Community College in the fall and getting a start on her future career. Her mom is the owner of Tammy Lathrop Daycare, and Amarah has grown up in the childcare environment. She currently works at Otter Creek Childcare Center. She plans to take courses in early childhood education and psychology to ready her for a professional career.

“I hope people who have the same struggles of me see this and are able to explore learning options that are right for them and know that they are not dumb or bad at school, but everyone can learn and thrive in different ways,” Lathrop said.