from Robbins, was laid off from Ramtex Inc., a textile manufacturer in Ramseur, when it downsized several years ago.
"I worked there for 13 years," Lane said. "I thought I'd be there until I retired. When they closed, I was forced to draw unemployment. I was at the Employment Security Commission office, and we talked about college.
"I made up my mind to take my education seriously and come to college. I am so glad I did. I have spent my life making a living, but now I want to make a difference."
Lane will be awarded an associate in applied science degree in human services technology with a substance abuse counseling concentration. She will be able to assist in drug and alcohol counseling, work in prevention-oriented educational activities, help recovering clients with rehabilitation, manage community-based programs, or help counsel patients in residential facilities.
Lane was able to gain cooperative learning experience at the Day Reporting Center in Carthage. She has several places in mind to apply for employment when she graduates.
Regarding her two years at Sandhills, Lane said, "Every one of my instructors were great, they all want us to succeed and are so encouraging. I have just loved all my classes at Sandhills.
"The first day I was here, I was in a psychology class, I looked at myself and said, 'What in the world am I doing here?' I ended up making the second highest grade in the class!"
Learning was exciting to Lane. She awoke at 4:30 most mornings. The quiet helped her study better, and she felt her mind was fresh earlier in the day.
"In high school, I just coasted along," she said. "I made fairly good grades back then. But now, good grades are more meaningful because I had to work hard for them. And the instructors at Sandhills make students work for those good grades. They don't just hand them to you."
Lane said she was very proud to be inducted into Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the international honor society of two-year colleges.
"I never thought I was capable of doing something like that," she said. "Being in PTK is a big honor."
Northcutt, meanwhile, will receive an associate in applied science degree in medical office administration from Sandhills. Northcutt worked at Candor Hosiery in Biscoe.
"The plant shut down when they began manufacturing elsewhere," Northcutt said. "I was very worried. I didn't know what I was going to do. Like Sarah, I was given the opportunity to attend college.
"I really enjoyed being back in school. It has been so much fun meeting new people. It sure beats a rocking chair and afternoon soap operas!
"Don't let anyone tell you that you are too old to go to college. Everyone made us feel so welcome at the college, and once there, I no longer felt uncomfortable around all the younger students. There are students of all ages at Sandhills."
Northcutt enrolled in the medical office administration program after much encouragement from her two children.
"My daughter is a mammography technician at Pinehurst Radiology, and my son is a laboratory technician at FirstHealth of Moore County," she said. "They thought I'd be good working in a medical office because they say I am very patient with people and I am a good listener."
As for her experiences at Sandhills, Northcutt said, "I think so much of every one of my instructors. They have all been so helpful and patient."
Northcutt's first day of college experiences mirror those of Lane.
"I did not even know how to turn on a computer when I came to Sandhills," she said. "When I walked into my first English class and saw all the computers, I about turned around and went home. They told me I should purchase a flash drive and I didn't even know what that was.
"The instructors and fellow students helped me and I picked it up, with lots of practice. I purchased a computer and by working on it at home, I am now quite confident working with one."
Northcutt will begin her job search after graduation.
Regarding the graduation ceremonies, the ladies are holding out hope that they will be able to make it to their grandson's ceremony and that he can come to theirs.
"We are still waiting to hear what time his ceremony will be," Lane said.
"T.J. has been so encouraging all along the way," Northcutt said. "He is just as proud of us as we are of him."
"Now that I have been to college, I can discuss things with him that we would have never discussed before," said Lane. "This has been such a great time in all our lives."
Karan Manning is director of marketing and public relations for Sandhills Community College.
