Tyler Southward Flourished At Gaston College

Tyler Southward truly flourished during his time at Gaston College.

That’s the word this week from college spokeswoman Stephanie Michael Pickett. She explained that Southward was 24 years old when he started at Gaston College in 2018.

A native of Saginaw, Mich., who moved to North Carolina in 2014, he’d never been an enthusiastic student and had dropped out of high school. But in his early 20’s, Southward decided to commit himself to his education and his community.

“I was both determined to succeed and uncertain whether I could,” he said. “I wondered if the years that I had not taken school seriously would come back to haunt me.”

But those doubts were soon dispelled. Southward is among this month’s graduates of Gaston College. He has earned an associate in science degree, and he has many achievements and accolades to his credit.