GED Student Stories


Kiesha from Texas
Retaking the GED Math Test

Kiesha from Texas

You can’t even get a dishwasher’s job without that GED or a high school diploma. I am tired of not doing anything. I am just existing. I look at the world today, and that is (Read more...)

motivation enough. Times are getting harder, and I am not getting any younger.

I took the GED test and passed every thing but math portion. So, I keep trying to get the GED Instructor who hosted the test to let me come back in and retest, but she wouldn’t. I don’t know why. The time ran out for me to take it before 2012, so now I have to retake the whole test. I don’t have enough money for the test. Now I am looking for funding to retake it.

I want a career. I love the administrative field. I want to be a Leasing Agent or a Housing Case Manager. Getting my GED means a better life for me and my kids. But I need help!

From the GED Academy: It sounds like you have a clear goal in sight. You know exactly what you want to be! That’s a great start! The next step is to make sure you can pass that math test the next time you take the test. Make sure to get in LOTS of practice, either with an online GED program, a GED Study Guide, or local classes at a community college or adult school. Take a practice test before taking the real one to see exactly where your problem areas are! You absolutely can do it and live the life you’ve dreamed for yourself. Good luck!

Dina
Gaining Confidence

Dina

Not having a diploma has always been a pain in my side, always feeling ashamed when the subject came up. When my daughter started school, I started volunteering in her class. I was later (Read more...)

asked if I would be interested in working for the school and if so, they would like to hire me. I then realized that I would only qualify for the position if I had my GED.

My family has been wonderful! My husband has always believed that I could accomplish anything and my mom is paying for the Academy in view of her support. I want my daughter to be proud of me and to know that school is very important.

I have faced many trials in my life, and from a little girl starting school, the foundation that was laid out for me was detrimental to the success that I would have in school. I am still trying to overcome these issues but I have resolved in my heart that I am going to do this for me. I deserve it.

I know that this certificate does not define who I am as a person, but I feel it will help build my confidence in myself and to get rid of that shame from walking out as a senior in high school. I won’t have to look back anymore but only move forward. I plan to get that job and be proud of myself!

From the GED Academy: It really sounds like you’ve already succeeded! As you said, you do not let a piece of paper define you, but do what’s necessary to get what you want out of life. We have no doubt in our minds that you will pass the GED with flying colors! Good luck, we know you can do it!

Maria
Becoming a Nurse

Maria

What motivated me to get my GED is that I want to be a nurse. I wanted to go to college and become a nurse, but I knew that I needed my GED first.

My family doesn’t inspire (Read more...)

me to move on. They just bring me down, but there is always one person who will motivate me, and that person is my husband. He tells me I can do it. That I’m better than I know, but I choose not to be. He also told me not to worry that I didn’t graduate, because he graduated and he is working in a factory. That it isn’t worth it.

I have faced a lot of family problems, but I have learned to deal with it and to be strong. My goal and hope is to go to college and nursing school, so I can be someone in life. My dream is to have a good job and a settled place for my husband, my kids, and myself. I want to show them that you can achieve anything by trying your best and not giving up.

From the GED Academy: It’s wonderful that your husband is so encouraging! Don’t pay any attention to those who would bring you down. You’ve got a great future ahead of you. Just keep your eyes on your goals, and you’ll be sure to achieve them! Good luck!

Carmelita from Michigan
For My Unborn Child

Carmelita from Michigan

I’m 15 years old, and I went from being an A/B student to getting straight Fs. I let my social life take over my dreams of going to college and becoming the doctor I wanted to be. (Read more...)

I haven’t lived with my mother since I was 11. I was always off with boys in the streets until I realized that doing all of those things wasn’t putting money in my pockets. It wasn’t going to feed me or help take care of my unborn child. I want a better life for me and my baby. I’ll be 16 in April. I dropped out of school this year. A 10th grade semester of classrooms filled with kids worse off than me, fighting and doing other things... These things aren’t helping me get the education I need. So in order for me to live a better and more successful life, I feel I need to get my GED.

I have no friends to support me. The only family member who supports and believes in me is my mother. Other than her, I have my boyfriend who stands behind me and supports me through all my obstacles.

I’ve been arrested. I’ve been facing court battles back to back. I’ve been in too many situations that have put my life and others in danger. I got away from that by not hanging with the same people that got me into trouble. I keep to myself, and I do what I have to do to take care of me.

I hope to be able to get my GED and become the nurse or doctor I want to be. I want to live worry free, out the hood, and be somebody. I want to make not only my parents, my boyfriend, and myself proud, but I want to be able to tell my child I made it. That I did it for him/her.

From the GED Academy: That’s wonderful that you’re turning your life around! A high school environment can definitely cause stress and make it difficult to learn. Since you used to get As and Bs, I bet it won’t be difficult to get right back on track when you start studying for the GED. However, even though you’ve dropped out of high school, you’re not alone. There are GED programs that are nothing like the high school environment that can help you understand what it is you need to do to pass and to get moving with your life. Don’t be afraid to seek out help!
Good luck! We know you can do it!

Claudia from Delaware
I’m Doing This for Myself

Claudia from Delaware

I want to do this for my kids. If I haven’t finished school, how can I be a role model for them? My dad is always getting on my back because I got pregnant and dropped out, so (Read more...)

I’m doing this for him too. And for my mother, who passed away. I know she would have wanted me to finish school one way or another. Also, I’m doing this for myself. I want to feel that I have accomplished something so valuable to me, and for my kids future.

From the GED Academy: It’s great that you’re doing this for yourself! When it comes time to do the tough things in life, no matter how much other people want us to do them, it always comes down to whether or not we want to. It sounds like you’re incredibly motivated too! We know that with that kind of perseverance, you’ll be able to accomplish anything. Good luck!

Sara from Thailand
I Want to Study

Sara from Thailand

If I have a small problem, I can solve it with a cool head, but if I have a big problem, I’ll ask everyone around me what I should do.

I really want to study, and I (Read more...)

don’t want to sit in high school any more. I want a good job. That’s why I need my GED.

From the GED Academy: That’s great that you’re motivated to study! Take a practice test to see where you’re at, and then it’s just a matter of studying what you don’t know. Good luck! We know you can do it!

James
Thanks to the GED

James

I had very low student discipline while attending high school although I had a high IQ, so I was told. Put off doing the required home work. But I was attentive in the classroom & (Read more...)

read all the required books. My test scores were always high, top 10%, but the missing home work was a major factor in my failing nearly every subject for the first two semesters. In my second year I changed and started studing in earnest but it was too late. Because I was so far behind at the end of my 2nd year I was expelled. Being now just turning 17-years old, I felt that I had made some major mistakes and the military would give me the second chance. My entry tests, academic, physical etc were all very high, so I was admitted. Later I was told that the tests were high enough for OCS admission, but I lacked some requirements such as; not being 18 1/2 years old and not having a HS diploma, this was in 1956. I was getting regular promotions ahead of others, E3 in 10-months & E4 8-monthes later plus while a E3 I was a squad leader with some of the squad that out-ranked (E4s & E3s) me. I immediately proceeded with acquiring my GED which I accomplished with a high score, top 10% then started taking “home” accredited study courses. All these had supervised (Officer and/or NCO) tests to assure non-cheating. Some were through The United States Coast Guard Academy (Navigation & Math) and others from USAFI. When I became 18 1/2 with a HS GED certificate and some college, I applied for OCS (my CO recommended me) and was turned down, the requirements had been raised to two years of college, bummer. So now I continued with my studies, when I finally got my two years of credits, they had yet again raised the requirements to a full four year degree. By this time I was at the end of my enlistment and decided to not re-enlist. Later during the Vietnam war the OCS requirements had fallen to a HS diploma and for battle field commissions to less than that. Upon discharge, I continued taking classes at night and also took two-years full time in addition along with additional engineering courses and supplemented with some non-accredited home study courses. I now have aprox 270-credit hours of which aprox 235-hours are accredited of which half of those are actual class room time. I have a good reputation in my industry (Structural Engineering & Metal Fabrication) and never have a difficult time finding meaningful employment, always being contacted by businesses that heard about me. And this was thanks to the GED tests. Considering that the average high school grad and 25% of the college grads cannot pass the GED, it should say a lot.

From the GED Academy: Thank you for sharing your story with us! It sounds like you’ve really done a lot with your life so far. You’re an inspiration to students everywhere!

Lindsey from South Dakota
A Better Life for My Son

Lindsey from South Dakota

I’m 24 years old and a single mother of a 4 year old son. I dropped out of school in th 9th grade, at the age of 16. I got pregnant when I was 19 and realized that I needed an (Read more...)

education to find employment. It has taken me this long to realize that, and it sucks. I started studying for the GED tests in October of 2011 and successfully passed 4 of the 5 tests. Math is the hardest for me, and I’m struggling with it right now. Part of me wants to just quit, but I need a better life for my son. So I am pushing myself and working hard on trying to pass it. I don’t want a life of poverty for my son. I want him to know that he can be anything and accomplish anyhing in life if he has an education and stays in school.

I am the only child of 8 children who does NOT have a high school diploma or GED diploma. My family is also pushing me and helping me to achieve my GED by helping me study and just being there and supporting me. They believe in me and it means a lot to me.

I’m having problem understanding math. Dropping out in 9th grade was a very bad idea. I have no knowledge of it and am currently testing at an 8th grade level. I feel so dumb and I know it’s my fault. I made the decision to drop out and it’s affecting me so much.

I plan on going to college after I get my GED. I have many goals and my dream is to work with teens who have alcohol and drug problems. I feel that I can connect with them because I have been down that road before.

From the GED Academy: It sounds like you’re working hard. Keep it up, and it will pay off! And don’t feel bad about math being difficult. Math is very hard for many people, even college graduates. With your determination, you’ll be sure to pass the GED, and help other teens with their lives in the future. We know you can do it. Good luck!

Chris from Nebraska
Everything Began to Crumble

Chris from Nebraska

High school was a breeze for me until my mother got cancer. Everything began to crumble around me, and with the school being a very unsupportive environment, I began to develop a hate (Read more...)

for it. I had been an honor roll student every quarter my freshmen and sophmore year until I couldn’t take all the negativity toward me, so decided to go to alternative school. When they told me I had to go back to the high school, I bit the bullet and gave it a try for a quarter my senior year. However, I realized that I was falling back into the same rut as before. I dropped out and got a lot of nasty letters about truancy from the school when I was already 18 at the time. The school wasn’t too excited about losing a top student, so they threatened me at every angle possible.

My family has been really supportive along with my friends. The people I’ve met through getting my GED have also been very supportive. Most of my problems have been personal ones. It’s amazing how small town schools will look past you as a person and label you just because you have problems attending. It really opened my eyes. I really hope to develop my own self esteem in the future. I plan to go to college after getting my GED so that I can build a better future for myself.

From the GED Academy: High school can definitely be tough. Getting your GED is a great first step toward a brighter future though, and people who did academically well in high school usually find college an incredibly more positive experience. Make sure to take a few practice tests to see where you are, and brush up on any areas that might need a little study, and we’re certain you’ll have your GED in no time and be on your way. Good luck!

Mike
Nowadays You Need an Education

Mike

After a successful career and still young enough to start another one I really needed to get my GED in order to move forward. When I started working full time at the age of 15 a strong (Read more...)

back and a willingness to work hard was all you needed. Nowadays you need an education more than anything else to succeed. At the bare minimum a GED gets your foot in the door and allows you to go on to college.

At first, I didn’t want to tell anyone I was working on my GED: I was embarrassed. After a while I realized I needed their encouragement and motivation and told my children. Guess what? they where proud of me and even offered to help me with the math section. Working on your GED is nothing to be ashamed of. Many people for many reasons didn’t complete high school. Whatever your reason now is a good time to get your GED. Tell your fiends and family, if they care about you they will be supportive and provide inspiration.

My biggest hurdle was just getting started, I figured I could never do the math section, therefore I was doomed to fail before even getting started. I saved the math for last so that I would have a better idea of how to perform during testing. I eventually found myself enjoying the math practice lessons once I began to figure things out. Don’t worry about getting perfect scores just have fun, it will all start to sink in over time.

My goal was to gain the satisfaction of knowing that I could obtain my GED. I had been putting this off for the last 35 years. At 51 I feel like I have really accomplished something significant. Something that nobody can take away from me or minimize the importance of my accomplishment, I did this for me.

Don’t give up. Call the staff at the GED Academy or send them an email. Ask for their help and they will help get you through this. It’s not as hard as you think but it’s not simply going to be handed to you either. Study hard and you will achieve your goal. Very important: Read the sections on how to study, how to test and think smart and stay motivated. These sections I almost overlooked but found to be very helpful.

From the GED Academy: Thank you so much for your words of encouragement! Times have certainly changed, and they continue to change as education becomes more and more important in the world. It’s great that you were able to have a successful career, even without a GED! And now you’re going after even more. You’re truly an inspiration, and we hope you the best of luck on your future goals!

Alexandra from Louisiana
No Matter How Long

Alexandra from Louisiana

I need my GED because I need a better job. I had to drop out of high school, but I want to go to college to make my mother happy. I want to be a nurse, and I want a better life with my (Read more...)

GED.

My family and friends have always loved me. They always keep me happy. They told me to shoot for my goals no matter how long it takes.

I should have stayed in school. I had thought school wasn’t for me, but I now I have to do this for myself. I want to be happy.

I’ve always dreamed about being a singer and a dancer. I’ve always wanted to write songs. If I have a kid one day, I want to tell her to finish school an go after her dreams. I want go all over the world.

I want to get GED to make my mother proud of me. I really want see my mother happy. She did everything for me. I also want my own house.

From the GED Academy: Your friends and family are right, shoot for your goals! You’ll get there if you keep trying! Good luck, and let us know when you pass!

YoungBlackFemale from Florida
I Feel Accomplished

YoungBlackFemale from Florida

I was 21 points from passing the FCAT Reading. After I graduated with a certificate, I was devastated. I thought I was going to be stuck working a low wage job, but after school was (Read more...)

over, I signed up for the GED.

My mother motivated me. She understood what was going on. I had three close friends who supported me too, and my best friend was even in the same position. She inspired me.

I had problems on the Math. I recommend that everybody focuses their studies on math. I would usually rent a GED book and stay up for hours or so studying the book. I wouldn’t use a calculator at all. I’d just do it by hand or find other ways to get the answer.

I feel accomplished. This stress that I’ve been holding in is fading. I want to go to a community college, then transfer to a university. I want to beat the education system and show everybody I’m not another statistic. In the future, I want to live comfortably without living from pay check to pay check. I want to show my parents that I made it.

From the GED Academy: Great job on really tackling math! You’re right that people should focus mostly on their weakest subject, instead of avoiding it. By studying math without using a calculator, when you take the test, you’ll be all the more prepared and ready to ace it! It sounds like you’re on the right path. Keep it up, we know you’ll do great!

Patrice from Missouri
Nothing Stands in My Way

Patrice from Missouri

I dropped out of school in the 9th grade for many reasons. Mostly because no one in my family cared about my education or me. So why should I? Then I realized that nobody should care (Read more...)

about my education more then me!! I decided to go to job corps and get away from all. Since it was my education, then it should be my focus, and to do that nothing or no one should stand in my way.

I have been motivated with my own perseverance, against all the odds. My family pushed me to want to do more because they didn’t do enough. That forced me to fly or fall. My family wasn’t there for me. My mother didn’t want to deal with having to choose between her husband and her daughter. My older brothers both dropped out and have not returned to get their education. We moved at least once a year. My father was never there, and my mom was estranged from her family due to shame of what happened within ours. People may or may not change, but that doesn’t mean you can’t. It may be harder for some than others, but anything worth having is worth working for! You can do it! I am almost a graduate with an 8th grade education. Who would have thought? You can do it! It’s not just ability, it’s effort!

Problems have arisen in the form of my family not supporting me, depression, molestation, emotional neglect and abuse. I decided that if I stayed a victim, I could never be the victor. My success was not based only on my supporters, but my Faith in God. Facing my fears keep me from freezing in them. Success isn’t only measured in the rate it is achieved, but the fact you keep trying. The minute you stop trying is the moment you’ve lost, because you can’t accomplish what you don’t attempt.

I am 3 credits away from my A.S., and I’m working on my BSW which will lead to a LCSW. This will seal my future in a world of mayhem and propel my and my family’s success. It will offer them options in the future beyond just surviving it. Having faith in God opens the door to self motivation and fuels determination. Keep going! Your future isn’t determined by your past mistakes or pains you’ve suffered from the hands of others. Your future is determined by what you make of it!

From the GED Academy: It looks like you’ve had a pretty rocky life, but you’ve got a wonderful attitude! A social worker is a wonderful career to strive for, too! Just keep looking toward the future, and keep doing like you have been and you’ll be able to have everything you’ve ever wanted for yourself and your family. Good luck. We know you can do it!

Karenisha from Mississippi
Motivation to My Girls

Karenisha from Mississippi

Well, as I was reading some of these stories, I felt like some of the people in them. As a mother, I wanted to be a motivation to my four little girls. I am 26-years-old, and I dropped (Read more...)

out of school in the 12th grade. I don’t want them to do that. I want them to do more than what I did. I tell them everyday to go to school and do their work. I just feel like now it’s time for me to do something with my life. I am getting too old to have nothing behind my name. Not even a high school or GED diploma.

My kids have been my motivation. I have faced some problems. I need help from someone so I can make a better life for me and my family.

From the GED Academy: It’s great that you’re encouraging your girls to go to school. Also, by seeing you studying as well, they might be even more motivated to do like their mom.

Getting a GED can be a complicated and confusing process, but there is a lot of information at passged.com that you can look up to help you get acquainted with the process. The first step is to take a practice test to see what you know. Having been out of school for a while, you might have forgotten some of what you learned. Then you can enroll in a GED preparation course that will teach you exactly what you need to know to pass the GED. If you enroll in our program, you’ll have access to tutors who can help you understand both the study material, as well as what you might need to do next.

Don’t worry about not understanding the whole process at the beginning. Just take it one step at a time, and you’ll get there! Good luck!

Ashanta from Louisiana
I’m Not Giving Up

Ashanta from Louisiana

I was motivated to get my GED when I realized I getting kicked out of school my senior year. I didn’t want to let that stop me. I kept on going in order to show people not to give (Read more...)

up. My family inspired me, but some of my friends thought it wasn’t a good idea.

I faced alot of problems: crying, headaches, stress. I solve my problems by giving them to God. In the future, I will be going to college getting me life moving forward.

When I left high school, I told myself that I’m not giving up. There’s too much out there to be at home all day. Always believe in yourself. Don’t worry about people who talk about you, be it good or bad. Just let God take control.

From the GED Academy: It sounds like you have a good attitude. Don’t give up, don’t worry about the things you can’t change, and keep moving forward. If you haven’t already, take a practice test, see what subjects you do well at and what you need help with, then get enrolled in a good GED program. You’ll be passing the GED in no time and on your way right alongside the rest of the students in your class. Good luck! We know you can do it!

Randy from Indiana
In and Out of Detention

Randy from Indiana

I dropped out of school my first semester of my sophomore year, because I didn’t have the right amount of credits i should have. My mom thought it would be a good idea for me to (Read more...)

try the GED. I don’t have very much family support, but some of the stories I read concerning other people and the GED really gave me motivation to keep going.

The biggest problem I have had in the past is always going in and out of detention and doc once, but I turn 18 in February so... I am just concerned that if I don’t do this now, I’ll regret it later when I’m job hunting. I have taken the evaluation tests to determine where I’m at. I got a 480 on math, a 450 on lang. arts writing, a 390 in lang. arts reading, a 470 in social studies, and a 450 in science.

From the GED Academy: It looks like you’re doing pretty well in most subjects, though I would suggest a little extra studying up to guarantee that you’ll pass your first time. You’ll definitely want to try and raise your reading score. Luckily, with the internet, you have a wealth of information at your fingertips. Find what interests you and look up news sites or informative sites about it. Taking a course in reading will definitely help you with your comprehension, too. It’s not just about reading the words, but understanding them. Then just keep on reading everyday and you’ll find yourself naturally getting better at it.

The biggest thing is to find out what interests you and delve into that. Finding an interesting career or even a hobby will keep you motivated and out of trouble. That will help move you forward to accomplish your goals. We know that you can pass the GED, and it’s great that you’re getting it done early. It shows that you’re already motivated and ready to get going with your life. Good luck!

Marie
Anxiety and Agoraphobia

Marie

I realized living with my mother won’t last forever. It scares me that someday something might happen to her, and I won’t be able to get by on my own. To realize you have no (Read more...)

friends and no life is scary, and it is even scarier to realize someday you will face this world alone and unprepared.

My family is not supportive, to put it simply. My family is very abusive and dysfunctional. I have no friends at all! Not even one because of 17 years of my life struggling with agorphobia.

I have disabilities: major depression, anxiety, agoraphobia and PTSD from years of abuse in my family. I am not sure I will ever get over these issues, but I do know in order to try I have to do something to better my future.

My dream is to become a Medical Assistant. I have always had a love for helping people and animals. Since I was a little girl that was what I wanted to be. I dream of getting my license and a car, to have my own place and to be able to wake up each day and have something to look forward to and know I gave this to myself.

I hate it when people say the past is the past and you should get over it. If it were that simple, a lot of people wouldn’t be in the situation they are today. I fear people, I fear change and I fear being alone the rest of my life. If I can try to get out and get my G.E.D. that would be the biggest accomplishment of my life. I don’t have any kids, so I’m not like a lot of other stories that has to worry about supporting children. In a way I’m grateful, because I always want my future kids to have better than I have/had. I want to be a role model and change the lives of people who are sick. If I don’t succeed with becoming a nurse, I would love to devote my time to animal rescue or Vet Tech. I dropped out of school in seventh grade to protect my mother from abuse. I witnessed so much. Deep inside I know it changed me as a person. I think it’s about time to reclaim the person I always wanted to be, time to stop caring about what others/strangers think of me and do something that will make the Lord proud he put me on this earth. I wish everyone the best in their goals.

From the GED Academy: Thank you for sharing your story. Life can already be hard, and facing issues like anxiety and agoraphobia certainly doesn’t make it any easier. You’re right that “getting over the past” isn’t something someone can just do. Going through difficult situations definitely changes people at the core. However, change for the better can and will happen if you put your mind to it. Do allow it to happen in the way that’s best and most natural to you, though. If you can’t get out the door today, don’t be angry. Just try again tomorrow. It sounds like you’ve got a good head on your shoulders, and with some studying I have confidence you’ll pass the GED test. Just take it slow, never stop trying, and you’ll accomplish all of your dreams! Good luck!

Futurgirl from Indiana
Translating Every Word

Futurgirl from Indiana

I would like to get a higher education from college and to have a good career. My family has helped me a lot by motivating me. My dad has helped me with math. My biggest problem though (Read more...)

has been language. English is not my first language, so I spent more time translating new words than studying.

I have many goals after I take my GED. I will go to college and find a high paying job.

I’m from Yemen and I speak Arabic. Everything here is very different to me: the people, the language, and the religion. I’ve had to translate almost every word I see to my own language, Arabic. I took classes, and this nice website, passged.com, has helped me a lot. I would like to thank everybody at this website. The teacher, Mr. Williams, and the friendly students in the courses.

Thank you.

From the GED Academy: Living in a culture that is vastly different from your own can be hard! It’s even more difficult when you need to educate yourself in a language you don’t understand. Translating each word as you go is hard and cumbersome, but you’re doing it! Take pride in your accomplishments! We know you’ll be attending college soon. Good luck, and thank you for letting us know how you’re doing!

Julia from Massachusetts
I Never Finished High School

Julia from Massachusetts

I need my GED, because I never finished high school. I need to pass the GED test in order to have a career and to put my daughter in day care. My friends and family have given some help, (Read more...)

and they share their opinions with me on how to pass the GED test. I have a social worker who gives me her opinions too about it.

In the end, I hope I can have a good career with my GED diploma. I’d like to get something in business. Then I can get things in my life settled.

From the GED Academy: Good luck with the test! It sounds like you’re talking about it with everyone around you. That’s great! Having lots of support to help you is always a wonderful way to start on your path to getting a GED diploma! We know you can do it!




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