One student's story
"Thank you for providing me the opportunity to obtain a better life and for giving me such a great experience here."
Julie Foster has been a Spokane resident for nearly all of her 36 years. She attended both Central Valley High School and Gonzaga Prep, but neither situation worked for her and she left school in 1987. Earning a diploma has always been a goal. In 1989, Julie began working on her GED but, unable to prepare effectively and suffering from test anxiety, she left the program. She again attempted to complete her GED in 1995. Unfortunately, she experienced similar roadblocks and again failed to complete.
Julie has spent a good deal of her time since leaving school as a cashier for various businesses and working for childcare providers. While she has enjoyed her jobs, she continued to feel that she was capable of more, that her current situation was not "it". She still wanted her GED.
Having heard of Career Path Services she came in and met with one of our employment representatives, Mary Peterson. Mary, Mike Hunley, one of our full-time GED instructors, and Julie worked out a plan to address her education and employment goals. Julie appreciated that Career Path Services programs were designed around her pace of learning and comfort level. "I never felt inadequate." The individualized instruction, high level of access to teachers, and the encouragement of Mary, her employment representative, was what helped her to finally complete the exams that had plagued her for so long.
Julie says that attending the GED graduation ceremony provides her, "A sense of completion, the ability to say, 'Yes, I graduated,' it's something that I can show my own kids." Julie's kids were a big part of her success - a daughter actually came with her to class several times and a son checked in with her daily about homework help.
Having completed her GED, Julie plans to attend Spokane Community College beginning in September for either a medical records certification or for an AA in accounting. These were opportunities that would have remained closed to her had she not earned her GED.
After years of struggling, obtaining her goal has provided her with a new perspective on education. "Getting the GED has given me more confidence in regards to school." Although still nervous about starting college, she now focuses on her recent success and not failures from her past.
