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My GED story - Why it works and why you should consider it

When children are young, their minds are very curious and ready to learn everything they can. Many have speculated this desire to learn fades with their coming of age and maturity, but it certainly does not. It is human nature to want to know as much as we can.

But as we grow older, our free will strengthens, our goals become more definitive. A kid who got straight A's in elementary school may be starting to get C's and D's in middle school, and by high school may be failing altogether. This certainly does not mean they are losing their intelligence, the school work is getting ahead of them, or even that they are lazy. They just need independence, they need freedom, because their desire to learn still exists, but now they wish to take control of themselves and their futures.

It can be argued that a high school education provides the necessary skills to work your way up to higher education and careers. This is true, but it is likely that many teens already have ascertained enough skills to move on to new opportunities, ones they control. They have already been fortified with literacy and social skills from their early schooling years, and for many of them, it may very well be time to move on. If a teen is bored and worn out by his sophomore or junior year, forcing them to continue on with something they don't wish to do will not be beneficial to them. It is wasting good years and good potential. Many parents are concerned that if their teenager drops out of high school, they will have very few options, but there is a very easy, fast, and simple way of acquiring a diploma.

The GED is a test of basic skills in English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Upon passing the test, the former high school student is awarded a high school diploma. Those of you who have not seen a GED diploma may fear that it is not a diploma but a lowly equivalency. But it is a diploma, and written on it is the same text as on a conventional high school diploma, stating that the student has met all of the state requirements for graduating high school. It is a diploma by all means, and should not be thought of as 'settling'. It is an official state certificate that declares a person to be educated and able.

There are study classes and pretests for students who need time to prepare for the GED. With these pretests at hand, there is no reason any student should worry about failing when the time comes to take the real thing.

I personally, had dropped out of high school mid-January, taken my test by mid-February, and was mailed my diploma in early March. It can be obtained as quickly by anyone who wishes to. I am now enrolled at a community college for my AA.

With a GED, it is definitely an option to go to college. Almost any community college out there will accept students with a GED diploma. And from an Associate's degree acquired at community college, it is even possible to transfer to a university.

If a teen's family has a pre-payed college fund, they could start college that very next semester, a year or 2 ahead of their high school peers. But even if the family is tight on money, the extra time gives the teen years to work and gain the money needed to start college classes. As you can see, their choice to drop out of high school and attain a GED did not put college out of reach, but it either accelerated it or at least let the student start college at a normal time with extra money for their needs.

If college is not the direction you were choosing, a GED can accelerate you into the work force. While education is considered by employers, so is work experience, and leaving high school years early to enter work will give them time to gain that experience. A GED graduate would likely have much better job options by age 18, as they will be experienced and ready to take on more responsibility.

High school may not be for you, so consider this option. Just because you aren't succeeding in high school doesn't mean you can't, it just means you're probably ready to move on. So give yourself a chance, give quitting high school a brand new, positive image.

Written by: .xstrike-anywherex.
12 August 2008

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