High Country Workforce Development Board
468 New Market Boulevard
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 265-5434
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A New Chapter for Local Woman
(July 13, 2010) When Taylor Togs closed its doors in October 2007 and laid off Burnsville resident, Gail Parker, she never expected that life-changing moment to lead to a reception at the Governor’s mansion almost three years later. Parker was one of only fifty-eight NC Community College students honored for academic excellence at a dinner and award ceremony at NC State University on April 14 in Raleigh.
Being at the Governor’s mansion and seeing Governor Perdue was an honor. “The governor was very nice and she spoke to the group of us,” Parker said of her visit to the Governor’s mansion.
Parker worked at Micaville jean manufacturer, Taylor Togs Incorporated, for twenty-one years, and at the time of the closing in October 2007 was a supervisor. She was given the opportunity to go back to school for retraining with the help of federal dollars. At the time, Parker wasn’t sure if at fifty-one years old she could go back school, but because of the challenge and her love of learning she jumped in as a full-time student.
When Parker began her first semester at Mayland Community College she didn’t own computer and spent a lot of time in the library writing five papers for the required English classes. That year Parker’s sister gave her a laptop for Christmas to help with her schoolwork, and Parker signed up for an extra elective in Word Processing to help her get the feel for her new computer. Parker received several scholarships, as well as Workforce Investment Act funds to assist her with tuition and books.
The two and a half years it took to receive her degree in Business Administration went by fast for Parker, who preferred math, marketing, and economics to writing essays. She became heavily involved on campus at Mayland serving as the Student Government Association Secretary, a student ambassador, and a student member of the college’s foundation board. Parker also found that the instructors went out of their way to help students and that the range of ages on campus and in the classroom helped her learning experience.
Parker’s hard work certainly paid off: she graduated with a 3.97 GPA and would like to eventually get a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She has already had some job interviews and is optimistic about finding a job in her career field. Her advice to others in situations similar to hers is, “You’re never too old to learn. Don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done.”
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