If you had told Scarlet two years ago that she would be celebrating her GED with the Class of 2026, she says she probably would have laughed—or become defensive about the subject of school.
School had never been easy for Scarlet. From being held back in elementary school to navigating the challenges of high school, her educational journey included plenty of obstacles. During her sophomore year, she struggled with bullying while also grieving the loss of her grandfather, who had been a father figure throughout her life. After experiencing additional challenges at school, Scarlet ultimately dropped out.
For the next year and a half, continuing her education felt out of reach. Eventually, though, Scarlet realized that somewhere “deep, deep, deep down,” she knew she could finish what she had started.
When her aunt visited from New York in December, the two began searching online for GED programs and found Greenville Literacy Association. Soon after enrolling, Scarlet learned something that made her connection to GLA even more meaningful: her grandfather had volunteered with the organization years earlier. His legacy became another reason to keep going.
At GLA, Scarlet found more than academic support. She found a community of classmates, instructors, volunteers, and staff who encouraged one another through their challenges. She especially credits Vera, Destiny, Daniel, Louis, and Fran with helping change her perspective and become more positive.
“Not only do you show up for your students physically, but emotionally and mentally,” Scarlet shared during her graduation speech.
Today, Scarlet describes herself as more confident and positive because of her experience at GLA. Her journey wasn’t always straightforward, but she kept moving toward her goal—and now she can proudly call herself a graduate of the Class of 2026.
“Each of us has had a pit stop along the way, but we all had our reasons for keeping our head in the game.”