I did what I had to do one little step of the way. I had a lot of good people behind me saying, ‘You can do this,’ kind of directing me. Because when I got my associate degree from community college, my peers were saying, ‘I’m going to …University; where are you going?’ I’m going home with my kids, like find a job, and they were saying, ‘you’re not going to get a good paying job; go on, go on.’

Like I said, the financial freedom that I had existed, so I could very well go on. I looked into scholarships for everything. Every time I got a degree, I went on and looked for another scholarship. I kept that GPA up. It was 3.57. I kept it up really high so that qualified me for going on to scholarships. It was very difficult. … You’re still learning. I’m with people every day. I think just the greatest success is that I’m able to do what I do, I guess, and that I have changed so much.

The Problem with Higher Education

One problem with higher education is that it’s not for everyone. And that is something that GED teachers do not always recognize. They often raise successful learners’ expectations and encourage them to go on in the face of external pressures despite a lack of prevailing personal goals. Cora was a successful GED graduate. The GED enabled her to leave an abusive husband. It provided her an initial job as a Vista volunteer and it paid off in the education of her four daughters who were all honor students in high school. It enabled her to:

see life differently than I did when I first came into the Literacy Council. I challenge things more now. I’m not as afraid as I used to be… I found I’m more confident in myself than I was back then. I am happier with myself. I am at peace with myself…

But as to higher education, she says: “I have spent a couple of years of college. I’m not college material. I’m not saying that I can’t do it. I’m lazy in some degrees when it comes to college. I haven’t set any real big goals.”

Another problem with higher education is that it’s mandated. Adults who are highly successful in their jobs still need the validation of formal credentials. Lydia was a lucky exception. After receiving her high school diploma at the age of 47, she was hired by the school district as a paraprofessional to work with children with disabilities. She was also employed as the director of a summer program for children. Lydia explains her surprise:

when I went to the interview because the first thing it says on the top of it was college degree. But they said since I graduated from the high school program that they trusted me and this will be my third year doing it.

Pamela and Kathleen are GED graduates who have many years of experience in community service. Kathleen is vice president of a community board, a member of an historical board that deals with parks and coordinates programs for children and teenagers. Despite her expertise, this busy 36-year-old understands that a college diploma is essential to legitimize her work. But which path to follow?

I am in college. I have not decided what to major in. I am in Social Work right now. I also do early childhood development. I am leaning toward social work with some mental health… My goal is to be a guidance counselor.”