Melissa’s dedication and steady perseverance brought her to this proud moment. She joined GLA in March of 2024 after learning about our program at a Hispanic Alliance meeting and connecting with us through SC Works. While volunteering in the school district, she realized that earning her GED would open the door to the career she hoped for.
Math was her favorite subject, and it was the first test she passed. Although variables and equations were challenging at first, one-on-one tutoring with James helped everything begin to make sense. She expected Social Studies to be the hardest, but after taking Tom’s class, she passed with confidence. Her final hurdle was the reading and language arts test. She hesitated—fearing that failing the last test would set her back—but with encouragement from her writing instructor, Fran, and ABE Program Manager, Vera Castillo, she took the exam in September and succeeded.
When she told her son she earned her GED, he proudly shared the news with his entire 2nd grade class, announcing that his mom was even having a graduation party.
Today, Melissa stands here as a GED graduate, ready to pursue her goal of working in the school district while continuing to raise her family with pride.
