It might be easy to write off or dismiss people who are in jail, regardless of why they’re there.

However, eight inmates at the Western Tidewater Regional Jail recently were recognized for their exceptional performance at programs in which they have been involved while in the jail.

Deangelo Hyman, John Rice, Justin Satterwhite and Brandon Stephens received their general education diplomas. Jamir Avante and Damontre Lee-Smith received career readiness certificates. Jordan Hawkins and Larry Wood were recognized for their outstanding performance of trusty duties.

The eight men were recognized during a graduation ceremony on Wednesday, wearing blue graduation gowns. The four graduating with their GED also wore the traditional mortarboards, with tassels.

The GED program required the inmates to attend daily classes and study outside of class time for months. At the end, they took a multi-section test and had to pass each individual section.

It’s taxing work, even for somebody who’s not locked up. But for the inmates who had an environment that was not the most conducive to receiving an education, it was even more difficult.

The two men who received their career readiness certificates had plenty of work to do, too. And the men who were recognized for their outstanding performance of trusty duties showed their work ethic and perseverance.

The GED graduates spoke at the ceremony, giving voice to dreams of possible careers in welding, truck driving and billing and coding. They hope to further their education, go to college and learn new languages. All of those dreams are now theirs to grasp once they leave the jail.

Everyone makes mistakes and, for some people, those mistakes result in jail time. However, these eight men chose not to squander the time they spend at Western Tidewater Regional Jail. They used their time to make improvements in their lives, their work ethic, their study habits and more that will serve them well when they return to society.

We congratulate these men for their accomplishments and hope they continue to do well.