For Jennifer C., the decision to return to school wasn’t sparked by a single event, but rather a quiet realization: her dreams were waiting on the other side of one big roadblock—her GED.
“I wanted to change careers and go to college,” Jennifer shared. “I felt like not having my GED was my biggest roadblock, so I started researching programs available in my area. Life was just chaotic, and I had been living day to day—until I started thinking about changing the direction of my life.”
Jennifer didn’t let the years that passed weigh her down. Instead, she took a bold step forward—and just three weeks after starting the High School Equivalency (HSE) program at Dallas College, she earned her GED. But her path wasn’t without challenges.
“The hardest part was time,” she said. “After work and taking care of my home, attending classes was pretty tiring. And trying to understand things I hadn’t seen in over ten years—it made me feel stuck, like I wouldn’t be able to learn it all again.”
What made the difference, Jennifer says, was the support she received from Dallas College’s HSE program and its instructors. “The classes helped me a lot. They were online, and the instructors would stop and help you understand during class. They’d even take time privately to work with you.”
Two instructors stood out in Jennifer’s journey: Dr. Jennifer Hills and Ms. Krystal Hills. “The programs they teach are so helpful. I don’t have any negative feedback—only positive! I took the information they taught me, kept notes, studied after class, and it worked. I passed my GED test!”
Now, with her high school equivalency certification in hand, Jennifer is looking ahead with purpose and passion. “My plan is to enroll at Dallas College and pursue a nursing career. First step is my prerequisite classes, and then the nursing program.” To others walking a similar path—juggling work, life, and the desire for a better future—Jennifer offers this heartfelt advice: “Keep pushing. Keep learning. Keep trying—because you can only get better. Study outside of class and take it one step at a time. I’m so impatient, but I had to take it one subject at a time.”
Jennifer’s journey reminds us all that no matter how long it’s been, no matter how overwhelming life can feel, it’s never too late to change your direction—and yourself—for the better.
