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Outstanding Adult Learner of the Year Announced
Congratulations to Patria Brown from Cobb County School District Adult Education Program in Georgia!
Patria Brown was born with one leg and a congenital deformation of her hands, which led to 19 surgeries before the age of nine. Patria was determined not to let her disabilities slow her down, and stated that having a disability taught her how to persevere and continue forward in the face of adversity. She learned to ride a bike without her prosthetic leg and play the viola in 3rd grade with one less finger than everyone else.
Patria had a difficult childhood with her health and troubles at home. Due to extreme circumstances, Patria became pregnant as a teenager. She dropped out of school to work full-time and prepare for the baby. By age 19, she had two children, got married and had four more children and three stepchildren. She decided to put her wants and dreams on the back burner and focus on her children’s home life and education. When the last of her children were finishing high school, she decided that her time had come, and she signed up for classes at Cobb County School District. After registering, she sat in her car and cried with relief.
As a student, Patria encouraged her classmates to aim high and face their fears by openly sharing her own struggles. She wanted them to see that earning a GED wasn’t about talent but about persistence and effort. By showing the hard work she put in, she helped her classmates understand that they could achieve their goals with practice and determination. In April 2023 Patria was awarded her high school equivalency diploma. Her dedication to her studies earned her the honor of speaking at her graduation ceremony. Patria currently works part time as a student registrar for the Cobb County adult education program and is enrolled in Chattahoochee Technical College's business management program. After she earns her associate's degree in Business Management, she aims to pass the real estate pre-license exam and begin her journey in the real estate industry. Her ultimate goal is to become a real estate broker, where she can combine her business skills and passion for helping others to achieve success.
Patria inspires wherever she goes, supporting her children’s involvement in school activities, actively volunteering at her church and her children’s schools, and even serving as the president of the Girls Basketball Booster Club and co-president of the Sprayberry High School Foundation. Patria has also been involved in wheelchair basketball since 2007, playing for the Shepherd Center for many years and helping pioneer Blaze Sports of America’s first all-women’s wheelchair basketball team out of Georgia.
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