Graduate overcomes challenges to deliver MPCC GED commencement address

Mid-Plains Community College will recognize graduates of its GED program with a special ceremony June 23.

The event, which will begin at 7 p.m., is open to the public. It will be in the McDonald-Belton Theater on the North Platte Community College South Campus, 601 W. State Farm Rd., in North Platte.

Ian McCoy, of North Platte, will be the student speaker. Also speaking will be Gigi Berol, MPCC Ogallala Community Campus Outreach Administrative Assistant.

Open enrollment for individuals interested in earning their GED through MPCC begins July 7. To register, call 308-535-3637, email rankinr@mpcc.edu or visit Room 207 on North Campus, 1101 Halligan Drive in North Platte.

About student speaker McCoy

Ian McCoy keeps his MPCC ID upside down in his wallet, so he doesn’t have to look at the photo.

The young man pictured in it carried a negative inner voice, had long hair and a scruffy bearded face and never imagined he would attain a high school diploma.

Seven years later, and 110 pounds lighter, McCoy is all smiles as he prepares to be the commencement speaker June 23 at the MPCC GED graduation ceremony.

School has always been challenging for McCoy. After failing enough classes, he was held back and became a “super senior.” He felt isolated when his classmates moved on.

"There was a point where I didn't want to do anything. I wanted to just slowly die. My grandma was always there to pick me back up," McCoy said.

After both his grandparents suffered serious injuries, he decided to drop out of high school and move in to help assist with their recovery.

His grandmother’s nudging to get a GED sat in the back of his mind and in 2019 he decided to give it a go and signed up for classes.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic soon forced instruction online. His severe ADHD made it challenging to focus and work on his own at home.

"My instructor Renee assured me I could come back at a later time when I was ready," he shared.

When the college opened back up, McCoy returned but struggled heavily for the first year or two, sometimes just staring at books to look busy.

Then, about three years into the program, he decided he was tired of the negative self-talk.

"That voice in my head always was just dragging me down... I just got sick and tired of hearing it. So, I wrote down a schedule on a piece of paper... It drastically changed everything," McCoy said.

He built a routine, fixed his sleep schedule, started walking a mile a day, lost 110 pounds and suddenly found his mental health completely transformed.

"When I got out and got sun, felt the change in my body, it was just a massive mental change, mental shift. During that time, I was the happiest I've ever been."

With that newfound happiness, he flew through his last three GED tests in three months, finally conquering his hardest subject: math.

"When I was in high school, I was the Debbie Downer, didn't want to be there. And now, I'm generally happy. It's such a massive shift... It’s astronomical how much I’ve changed."

McCoy credits the GED instructors, non-traditional class setting and fellow students for his success.

“Renee (Miller) and Robin (Rankin) created an environment where I felt safe enough to overcome my anxiety and finally ask for help. Renee would work with me on the whiteboard until I completely understood the material,” he said.

He finished his GED on Feb. 24 and immediately found work. He said he is grateful for his manager taking a chance on him and is enjoying his responsibilities prepping Runza onion rings and working the grill making burgers.  

Most of all, he is looking forward to seeing his grandmother in the audience on graduation night. A fellow fighter, she was recently cleared of a suspected Parkinson's diagnosis and will be there to cheer him on as he receives his diploma.