Technical College Adult Education Recognition Ceremony Thursday, this was a
celebration they missed out on in high school. The graduates represent just
a portion of the 814 students who earned a GED at Chattahoochee Technical
College's numerous testing centers.
"Many of us worked in jobs with employers who had the mercy to hire us,"
said graduate Clarisse Henderson Morris of Euharlee. "Then they had to fire
us or lay us off because we did not have that high school diploma."
Thursday night's ceremony included three graduates who were selected by the
program's instructors and administrators to tell their own story about their
journey. Speakers featured this year's ceremony include Clarisse Henderson
Morris?of Euharlee, James Gordon Sears of Kennesaw and Gidgetta Wilcher of
Kennesaw.
Morris enrolled in the program at Summer Hill in Cartersville in December
2008 on a dare from her son.? She recently called that dare by passing the
GED with excellent scores after 40 years of wanting it to happen.
"I've tried to do this two other times," Morris said. "This time I did it."?
Sears enrolled in the Chattahoochee Technical College Adult Education
program in August of 2011.?After intensive studies, he received his GED
credential in December of 2011.?A native of New Jersey, Sears was home
schooled but moved before he could earn his diploma.
"I didn't know anybody here when I moved to Georgia," he said. "But I
accomplished so much. I earned my driver's license. I earned my GED and met
some great people. What made the program for me was the people."
Wilcher represented Chattahoochee Technical College at the statewide EAGLE
Leadership Institute in Atlanta this year.?One math credit kept her from
obtaining her high school diploma.? For 22 years this unaccomplished goal
weighed on her mind.? In April of 2010, her job of 12 years was eliminated,
and she decided it was time to get her GED.? Six months later, she had it.?
"My instructor said to me," Wilcher told the crowd, "You can lose your job,
your finances, or even a loved one, but you can never lose your education."
Throughout the U.S., two out of every three adults who take the GED test
report their reason for doing so is to qualify for further training and
education beyond the high school level. All three of the speakers selected
for the ceremony at the North Metro Campus have declared their intention to
continue with their education. Sears and Wilcher have already enrolled at
Chattahoochee Technical College. Currently Sears is pursuing his education
in hopes of becoming at broadcaster, while Wilcher enrolled in the
Healthcare Assistant program with hopes of becoming a nurse. Morris is
studying for her college entrance exam and is considering Chattahoochee
Technical College as a way to prepare for a degree in child psychology.
Without a high school or GED diploma a person will earn on average $7,658
less a year than someone with a secondary education credential. That number
along with statistics of higher chances of arrest and jail time, poorer
health, more troubled finances and lower self-esteem are all reasons that
people turn to Chattahoochee Technical College for help to pass the General
Educational Development test.
"With an estimated 1.24 million adults in our state who are without a high
school or GED diploma, it is easy to forget those that have worked hard to
pass the tests and now are better for it," said Jon Collins, executive
director of adult education at Chattahoochee Technical College. "But each of
these students is a success story and this is our chance to celebrate these
accomplishments."
The GED test provides adults at least 16 years of age who are beyond the age
of compulsory high school attendance under state law with an opportunity to
earn a high school equivalency diploma. In order to pass the GED test, a
student must pass a series of five tests in writing skills, social studies,
science, interpreting literature and arts, and mathematics. Successfully
passing these sections demonstrates that the student has acquired a level of
learning that is comparable to that of high school graduates. Tests are
scored from 200 to 800 points. A minimum standard score of 410 is necessary
to pass each individual exam, and an average standard score of 450 is
required to pass the full battery.
Chattahoochee Technical College offers free classes to prepare students for
the exams, including placement testing and online resources. GED preparation
classes are offered at no charge through Chattahoochee Technical College's
Adult Education program at a variety of locations in Bartow County.
"Taking the GED preparation classes greatly increases the student's chances
of passing the test over those who just 'walk in,'" said Collins. "The
hardest part of the whole process isn't the math or the other subjects. It's
not the tests or the classes. It's walking through that door for the first
time or making a call about the next step."
For more information about Chattahoochee Technical College and the college's
Adult Education Program, visit www.ChattahoocheeTech.edu.
Posts
1 comment:
GED or General Educational Development learning has become one of the best options among a lot of students who are looking for faster yet equally competitive ways to get into college or apply for a prestigious job. This is why a lot of people are thinking of getting printable GED practice test that can help train them to pass in the actual examination. Here are some reasons why getting one is important.
printable ged practice test free
Post a Comment