Our Impact & Student Stories

"Let no one put a period in life when God's still working out the best for you." Narcise Matumona Tshipadi was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and was raised by his widowed grandmother until age 14 when he moved to Uganda to learn English. It was in Uganda that he met his foster family and the man who would change his life forever. Narcise’s foster father taught him how to navigate the world around him and supported Narcise's drive to get an education. He enrolled Narcise in school, but after years of very little formal education, Narcise began third grade at age 15.

Wayne Brown has a life story marked by the challenges of growing up in a racially segregated society. Born in Mississippi during a time when segregation was deeply ingrained in the educational system, Wayne's early years were shaped by the harsh realities of discrimination.  He shouts his love of GLA from the rooftops. GLA has given him the opportunity to learn in a respectful, patient, environment where he belongs.

Michael decided to get his GED® to unlock new job opportunities. It was while he was doing research on available GED® programs that he found he was eligible for GLA Bootcamp and Goodwill sponsorship. He enrolled in Bootcamp and, even though finding time for class was challenging, Michael was a model student attending regularly and completing his assigned homework.

Madina Habibi's story is a testament to the transformative power of education. Arriving in the United States from Afghanistan with her family, Madina faced numerous challenges, but her determination to succeed led her to a path of remarkable accomplishments.

Fast forward several years and Edgar was a husband and father of two when he began to realize the value of education. As he investigated the possibility of getting his GED®, he tried three different GED® programs, but it was only when he found the GLA Bootcamp program that things finally clicked.

Jennifer always dreamed of earning her GED, but life had a way of putting that goal on hold. Over the years, she built a life full of responsibilities and commitment, yet something was always missing, she longed for the education she never completed.

Katisha heard about GLA through a GED® counselor in 2019 but had a challenging time staying consistent with her GED® classes. “Only my family knows that I have been trying to get my GED® for years, longer than 2019, but I had a lot of setbacks in life.”

When she began at GLA, her English was extremely limited, but she quickly gained ground and began moving up in her curriculum. Within months, she managed to bring herself to a workable level of English. Not long after that, she made the decision to enter GLA’s GED® program. “I took advantage of everything that GLA offered me,” says Isabel, “though it wasn’t easy – I put in a lot of hard work and studied, and became one of the most dedicated students in the program.”

Covid hit during Marley’s Freshman year of high school. Like many other students, she was suddenly forced to learn online from home. Also like many students, she became overwhelmed and had a tough time coping with the challenges that online learning presented. Marley decided to drop out of high school and pursue a GED® instead.

Ernie looked at several GED® programs that would suit his needs before discovering the GLA Bootcamp program. His advice to new students is for them to get their education sooner rather than later. He knows that there are always reasons not to do something but wishes he had done this years ago because he would be much further ahead now in his career.

It was only later when she became pregnant that she started thinking about the importance of her education – she wanted a better life for her son. Her brother had been to Goodwill and learned that Goodwill sponsored the GED® Bootcamp program at GLA.

In the midst of a steady career as a truck driver, Rafael’s life was changed forever when a severe spine injury left him jobless. Without a high school diploma, he knew there was little gainful work to be found. That’s when he contacted Greenville Literacy Association. Working closely with our program managers while in recovery from his injuries, Rafael worked diligently toward his goal.

When Jonathon expressed an interest in getting his GED®, a coworker told him about GLA. Jonathon was very worried that he would fail since it was not the first time he had attempted to get his GED®. Setting his fears aside, Jonathon enrolled in Bootcamp, and, to his relief, he discovered a caring, supportive instructor who taught him what he needed to know. This time around he was successful!

She was not academically motivated, lacked support at home, and was badly influenced by her friends. Jackie dropped out of high school in the 12th grade knowing she would eventually have to get her GED® to feel better about herself and get a higher-paying job.

Coming to America meant a new beginning and Theodore knew how to speak English; therefore, he didn’t waste any time enrolling in GLA to pursue his GED®. After easily passing Science, Social Studies, and Math, Theodore faced his biggest challenge: passing the Test’s Reading and Language Arts portion. Just as he began preparing for the RLA exam, his father passed away, requiring him to return to Nigeria to arrange the burial.

Ime came into the US from Nigeria in 2018. She was depressed due to a domestic violence situation that she endured for 11 years in her native country. Upon her arrival, she was granted asylum by the US Government.