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The first step in chasing my dreams was earning my GED. I knew there would be challenges, but the frustration of my 20-year career left me in a peculiar place. It was clear to me that the company did not care for its employees, in my opinion. I had a choice: either continue in a place where the quality of life was low, or show the world what I was made of. The fear of earning my GED had to be overcome.
I was also inspired by a friend from my neighborhood who posted on Facebook about how proud she was of earning her GED. I knew I wanted that moment for myself. Initially, I was reluctant and intimidated by the whole process. I was blessed to have a strong support system from my wife and three kids. There were thoughts that wanted me to stay in the comfort of complacency. They screamed for me to avoid fear, failure, and the unknown. Safety issues at my job grew, the quality of life was non-existent. My family was watching me. I could either let this job drive me crazy, or show my family that I could do it. I stepped out in faith and hope, and choose to lead by example. My journey began for my GED.
I passed the first three tests without much difficulty, but when it came to math, I was terrified. I had stopped learning math in the fifth grade, and now I was supposed to learn algebra, slopes, and geometry. In order to earn that GED, I had to conquer that monstrous math. This required me to study like a madman.
The day of my math test came, and I sat at the computer soaked with fear. When the screen showed the first question, my mind went blank. I ended up failing that test by one point. I was utterly defeated. The failed test zapped my motivation and energy. It would be almost a whole year before I tried again.
With the encouraging words of my wife and my job becoming more callous to the workers, I started to study again. With a new approach to math, I began to celebrate small victories. When I got a difficult problem right, I would celebrate and jokingly brag to my kids. I used Light and Salt on YouTube as my classroom and loved the format and style of how math was taught. I took the practice test on the GED site and passed. With a huge gulp, I scheduled the math test. The day of the test came, and I was about to face my giant once again.
As I walked to the testing center, nerves started to build. I had to say to myself, "just do the math" as my cadence. With a quick prayer and my mantra, the test began. What helped me was not letting all the letters and numbers intimidate me. I knew each problem had steps to solve it. I looked for indicators to guide me in which steps to use. By doing this, I greatly increased my chances of reaching the correct answer. I just had to do the math.
I finished the test with more confidence than last time. When the notification appeared on my phone, the results were in: I passed. I was overwhelmed with emotion; I had earned my GED. The feeling was nearly indescribable when I told my wife and kids. They knew how hard I had studied, they knew the times I was in doubt, and they knew what this meant to me.
I had never participated in a graduation ceremony, so I thought it would be amazing to participate in the GED graduation ceremony that my testing center was having. I got my money order and went to the testing center to sign up for the ceremony. They looked for my name and couldn't locate it. They asked if I had taken classes at their location, which I hadn't. I had learned on my own but thought I could participate in the ceremony since I was at their testing site. I was wrong. I wasn't able to have that moment of wearing a cap and gown. There was a feeling of disappointment but also of opportunity.
As my wife told me she was sorry, I said I was okay. I told her that my first graduation experience with a cap and gown would just have to be for my bachelor's degree. And it was. I earned my B.A. in History and Political Science from the University of Maine at Presque Isle, graduating with the honor of Summa Cum Laude.
Earning my GED was not only a great accomplishment; it also gave me newfound confidence. It showed me what hard work and determination can achieve. The sky is the limit. Not only am I an author and poet, but I am also an advocate for education. I am forever grateful for the GED testing service.
The GED Testing Service continues to expand their outreach and resources for the those in need of alternative education.