One woman in a Florida jail, Ajiah Gee, has made history by being the first female inmate to complete the jail’s Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) program.
The 25-year-old, who obtained her Class A Commercial Driver’s License without any restrictions, has become the first female inmate to graduate from the Walton County Jail CDL Program, according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office said it is difficult to obtain a CDL in Florida. In addition to passing written tests and a road skills test, candidates must show that they can drive complex vehicles safely.
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Gee advanced her training by obtaining her tanker endorsement (designated “N”) and double/triple trailer endorsement (designated “T”).
“These accomplishments take hard work, dedication, and determination. All qualities Ajiah has shown every step of the way,” the sheriff’s office said, according to WWNYTV.
“Second chances matter. Every certificate, every license, and every step forward is a chance to choose a new path,” the sheriff’s office added. “Congratulations, Ajiah. Thank you for paving the way for others to follow.”
The sheriff’s office explained that the Walton County Jail CDL Program provides inmates with the resources they need to thrive upon their release from prison and is fully financed by inmate welfare funds.
According to its website, the jail’s educational programs include the GED Program, heavy equipment operation program, parenting classes, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Certification, a farming program, living in balance: “addiction recovery and life reclamation” (In-house -residential substance abuse treatment Program) and the commercial driver’s license (CDL) program.
Gee’s historic achievement in becoming the first female inmate to complete the CDL program at Walton County Jail underscores the importance of second chances and the transformative power of education. This theme of resilience and personal growth is echoed in other correctional facilities, where inmates are given opportunities to turn their lives around and prepare for a brighter future.
READ ALSO: Young inmate at Rikers Island prison graduates as high school valedictorian
Earlier this year, Rikers Island inmates at the East River jail celebrated walking across the stage, beating the odds of an uncertain future behind bars. Sixty-three Rikers high school graduates exchanged their jumpsuits for robes of excellence while waiting for the courts to decide their fate.
Tonya Threadgill, head of East River Academy, told Eyewitness News that the theme for the graduating class was “resilience.”
“It means that they can overcome, that coming to jail is just not the end stop for them, that there’s hope and there’s a future for them.”
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