GED Stories

Name: Martin
Age: 57
City and State: Kissimmee, Florida

What motivated you to get your GED? I intend to obtain the Master of Wine. To get that I have to get a Hospitality Degree first. I left school at 15 unable to read or write correctly and have taught myself to a decent level. This will be the first class at this level I have attended in 41 years.

How have your friends and family helped you? They have not, just the opposite.

What problems have you faced? I solved them myself, having been homeless for 18 months of my life, the Sally (Salvation..I’m English) Army. Having experienced people dying from meths, drugs and every other ailment, I’m still going. Embarrassment with your instructors is what scares me the most as coming across as a complete idiot. You have my word when I do sign up I’ll try my best, but Lord help me!

I’ve traveled the world, worked on cruise ships, trains, Royal Air Force, major hotels throughout Europe and African continent. Visited the Arctic, Russia twice, all along the Baltic. Lived and been with many beautiful women around the world which has been a godsend to where I am now. Several of them have encouraged me to go back to school. Yes! I am privileged to have had to date such a varied life style. Married, met my wife on a cruise ship 16 years ago when doing a wine lecture. She was in the audience. Perhaps all this is best summed up as: Those that tell you the grass is greener on the other side have still yet to figure out how high the wall is. See you in October, after my English class.

Wow, your story is amazing. You’ve done incredible things in your life, and you have a clear goal in mind. You know what you want and how to get there. You’ll be able to accomplish this. Based on your writing, you’re at a good starting point for a lot of the GED tests.

Embarrassment is a big problem for GED learners. But realize that you’re in the same boat with everyone else. If you’re attending GED classes in a traditional classroom, just realize that it doesn’t matter where you’re starting. Everyone working for the GED got left behind somehow, and there’s no embarrassment in having a few educational gaps to fill in. Still, we know that just saying not to be embarrassed doesn’t help. That’s why we provide online instruction, in the privacy of your own home, at your own pace.

Whether you study with traditional classes or online education, we know you’ll be getting your GED soon. Let us know when you pass!

The GED Academy

Name: Felicia
Age: 38
City and State: Pueblo, Colorado

What motivated you to get your GED? I finally got my kids in college and now I see that you really can get far in life with a higher education. I’m a CNA now, but now I want to be an RN. The only way for that is going to college, and I need a GED to go. That is why I want this. I tried once before in the past to take the GED test but failed and lost my courage. Now it’s time to try again. Can you help me get there?

How have your friends and family helped you? They help me by telling me I can do it.

What problems have you faced? My memory is very bad, so are my math skills. I haven’t found anything yet to help me.

What do you hope to gain from getting your GED? Being an RN or being a family counselor.

Felicia,

A lot of people think they have a bad memory, but learning some memory tricks and study techniques can help a lot. And there’s really not a lot to memorize for the GED. What’s more helpful is understanding, not memory. If you can apply ideas to your own life, think them through, and really get what they mean, you’ll understand, instead of memorizing. It’s easier, and more effective. That’s the whole basis of our GED program.

The GED Academy

Name: Emma
Age: 63
City and State: Detroit, MI

What motivated you to get your GED? I’m tired of sitting around doing nothing.

How have your friends and family helped you? By telling me I can do it.

What problems have you faced? I need help in math mostly.

What do you hope to gain from getting your GED? At my age, I don’t know.

I finished cosmetologist school. However, they didn’t require a high school diploma, so I didn’t think much about it.

Emma,

Times have changed a lot. Today, almost all trade schools require a high school diploma. It wasn’t always that way. More and more employers require them as well. But your primary concern isn’t a career (though you may want the opportunities of a GED open to you).

At any age, the GED can be fulfilling. Since you wrote in, you must feel a desire to accomplish something through your GED. A sense of self-esteem and pride is just as important as, and maybe more important than, qualifying for jobs and colleges.

The GED Academy

Name: Iesha
Age: 16
City and State: Adairsville, GA

What motivated you to get your GED? Because I am 16 in the 9th grade. I am about to be 17 in October, and I want to get my GED before my 17 birthday, so please help me.

How have your friends and family helped you? I don’t have a family, I am in DFACS.

What problems have you faced? My teachers

What do you hope to gain from getting your GED? I want to go to college to cook and open my own restaurant.

Iesha,

You’ve got a great career goal. That’s very important, because you know where you want to be. College is definitely the way to get there. Of course, there are some challenges on the way. Since you’re under 18, you may need special approval to get your GED. Contact a local testing center to find out specific information. You can find the nearest test center from this page: Test Center Locator

The reason states have special requirements for people under 18 is because they really want you to stay in school and get a traditional high school diploma. We’d like to see that, too. If it’s possible to stay in school, it’s the best route to take. Still, we realize that sometimes the school system doesn’t help the way it should… It’s always sad to hear that teachers are failing to help their students succeed. We specialize in teaching students who had problems with the traditional classroom. We know that there are too many dropouts, too many people left behind by traditional schools. No matter what, keep your goal in front of you, and don’t let go of your dream.

The GED Academy

Name: Monaris
Age: 22
City and State: New London, CT

What motivated you to get your GED? I want to go to college and had promised my aunt before she died I would finish school and make something of myself, and I really want to help people out with the field I want to go into.

How have your friends and family helped you? I have one friend who believes in me, and my family really doesn’t tell me that they are happy for me, so that pushes me even more.

What problems have you faced? The only problems I face are math problems, that’s what I really need help with.

What do you hope to gain from getting your GED? I want to become a CSI. I want to be able to help families come to closure and let their loved ones rest in peace because I know what it feels like to lose someone to a murder and it never be solved.

That’s just about all. I hope that you can help me achieve my dreams and goals.

Monaris,

Math is a problem for a lot of people. The GED Academy takes math one step at a time, from the very basics, and helps you make sense of it. If you concentrate on basic number skills and how to think through word problems, you’ll have the foundation you need for GED math.

Now’s the time to get through it. I know it can be tough, but learning one thing at a time… really learning it… and going on to the next, you can do it. And you’ll be ready before you know it. If you master the math basics, you’ll be on the road to your dreams!

The GED Academy

Name: Ashley
Age: 19
City and State: Frederick, MD

What motivated you to get your GED? What made me realize that I needed my GED was watching everybody around me getting their high school diploma and I always wanted to go to the military.

How have your friends and family helped you? My ex-girlfriend and her family and mine have always motivated me.

What problems have you faced? It’s hard getting a job and getting teased.

What do you hope to gain from getting your GED? After I get my GED I plan on going into the army, but if that don’t work I want to start my own business after I go to college.

Growing up, life was tough. I hung out with the bad crew, always skipping, never listened to my teachers, called them names, threatened them, got arrested…the bad stuff. Now that I’m an adult, I realize that I was selfish and stupid and could have made bigger and better decisions than fight off my education. Now it’s all on me to finish this program and make something out of myself.

Now’s the time to get back on the right track. The army is always looking for good people… and since one of your goals is to go to college, be sure to ask about scholarships and grants from the army. Whatever career path you take, the first step is your GED. So, stick with it! You’ll go far.

The GED Academy

Name: Kevin
Age: 21
City and State: Boulder City, Nevada

What motivated you to get your GED? What motivated me on getting my GED is my future, I would like to have a brighter future and try to get a great career in life. I think with a GED you can have more job opportunities then a person who dropped out of high school and did nothing about it. I have been out of school since I was 18 and did not take my time seriously to get my GED until recently. The one thing I would like to accomplish is getting my GED and working on from there, but I need a lot of help since I’ve been out of any schooling since 18.

How have your friends and family helped you? My parents and my ex-girlfriend have helped me.

What problems have you faced? I had a lot a problems in social studies, reading, and math and need help on those.

What do you hope to gain from getting your GED? Careers, to have people notice someone who dropped out of high school and then went on to change his life and get his G.E.D., to show a bright future to the younger crowd who dropped out and think they cant get their education fix.

Education is important and everyone should take their time serious and go out there and get it. If you’ve been kicked out of school, dropped out, or just slept your way through, or had problems passing the requirement test to get your diploma, there still other opportunities out there that you can do, but it takes time and you need to be real serious about it.

Kevin,

You’re absolutely right. There are opportunities for everyone to continue their education and get what they need to have a career. Congratulations on taking this first step. Making the commitment to get your GED is what it takes. Stick with it; you’ll be a success!

The GED Academy

Name: Rosie
Age: 29
City and State: Brooklyn, NY

What motivated you to get your GED? I’ve always wanted to accomplish something in my life and I think me getting my G.E.D will push me to do bigger and better things for myself. I’ve always wanted to go to college, but I can’t do that without getting my G.E.D first. (more…)

Name: Nina
Age: 17
State: Rhode Island

What motivated you to get your GED? I dropped out of school at the age 16 as a freshman. I stood home all day doing nothing. I didn’t even want to work. One day I woke up and I told myself this isn’t what I wanted. I wanted to have BIG money when I got older and how would I do that just being a dropout? I got myself a job, and began studying every day for four hours.

How have your friends and family helped you? My mom and friends were very shocked when I dropped out of school as a freshman. I remember my mom telling me she wanted me to finish high school like my big brother. My friends told me it was okay to get my GED, not to sit around not doing anything. I remember I went to court, and this nice lady pulled me aside and told me to do what I felt was right, it was my life. She said as long as I felt happy about myself. Not to let people put me down. That’s just what I did. Thanks to her, I am here. (more…)

Name: Zaher

Hello everybody at GED Academy,

I have passed the GED exams and got an average score of 518. Your course has helped me a lot and I would never have passed the GED without this awesome help. (more…)