She enjoyed the hospitality of a friend for one night after her arrival and was the next day invited to live with a cousin. This she did, but the struggle to get an education was not here appreciated, and Ada still had to strive against the burdens heaped upon her, which, at times, seemed greater than she could bear. Having arrived just in time for the examination in the high school, she was admitted, and, notwithstanding the loss of two months of actual training, led her class. This being her first year in the high school, and with such a record, nothing could now daunt her. Many a day she sat and drank in the instruction imparted without having had a mouthful of food, as the little money she was able to earn was not sufficient to provide shoes, clothing, light and fuel. These were necessities which her fingers and brain had to earn after her household tasks were completed, for the latter were required as a bonus for a shelter.
Five years of care and deprivation had now passed, and with the class of 1879, of the high school for colored children of the District of Columbia, Ada was graduated and subsequently passed very creditably the examination for admission to the Miner Normal School, of which Miss M. B. Briggs was principal.
With the close of the school year 1879-'80 Miss Ada C. Hand was graduated with honors from the normal school, having passed successfully the entire curriculum of the public school course of the District of Columbia, and stood among the first for admission to the grammar, high and normal school.
