He was at rock bottom. Now he’s college-bound
How a Barren County man is turning his life around with a diploma
By Brennan Crain - WBKO News - Published: Jun. 6, 2025 at 5:43 PM CDT
GLASGOW, Ky. (WBKO) — Just six months ago, Jacob Coulter was at rock bottom.
Now, with a GED in hand and college on the horizon, the 31-year-old is focused less on where he’s been—and more on where he’s going.
Thanks to the SKYCTC Kentucky Adult Education program, he’s not only rewritten his future, but hopes to inspire others to take the same first step.
Coulter plans to study industrial maintenance, building on a lifelong knack for fixing things. He says that the dream wouldn’t be possible without earning his GED.
“I’ve been meaning to get it for a long time, and could just never find the time. Things were happening in life, and I couldn’t do it,” Coulter said. “Now, I’m happy to have it so I can move forward with my life.”
Working twice a week for a couple of hours a day, inmates at the Barren County Detention Center are given a no-cost opportunity to leave jail better than they entered.
The coursework covers everything from graphing functions to sharpening grammar skills, with instructors working closely alongside students to help them stay on track.
“Their life has already established a cycle, and they would like to break it,” said Michael Harper, instructor with Barren County Adult Education. “Getting a GED is one way for them to break their cycle.”
Jailer Aaron Shirley said he spent many nights at the jail early in his tenure, sleeping on a cot in his office. Those long hours, he says, are worth it when he sees people like Coulter choosing a new path.
“They make a worthwhile moment in your life,” Shirley said. “To get to be a little part of that makes me very proud of the job we do here.”
After completing the coursework and earning their GED, students are honored with a graduation ceremony inside the jail.
Even if someone is released before finishing the program, they can transfer to the local adult education center in Glasgow to complete their studies.
“I just really feel like a completely different person,” Coulter said. “I feel like the older, younger me than I have in a long time. That’s what a lot of people miss is the older, younger me.”
Adult education programs are offered in Barren, Metcalfe, Simpson, and Warren counties to help individuals earn a GED, prepare for college or career training, and improve English language skills.
Find more information about the program here.
