High School Equivalency (GED)

A quote by Mae West says, “I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it” is so true for the GED, or High School Equivalency Tests. They are not meant to be easy. They are to show that you know what you would know if you were to graduate from high school. So why work for it? Why struggle or take the time and money to get it done? Three main reasons: Employment, Education, and Self-Esteem.

Employment: The workforce has changed throughout the years. It is growing rapidly, along with fluctuating from blue collar jobs to white collar jobs and back again. As times continue to change, so do the requirements, but one in particular is needed even more so nowadays, and that is to have your high school diploma or equivalency (aka- GED). Without it, job opportunities are very limited, with not much room for advancement. By having at least your high school equivalency, more jobs with room for advancements will be available.

Education: Similarly, Education has changed so much, as well as needing education for employment whether it be having a certain degree, or training for particular jobs. Having your high school equivalency will open more doors of education to help you achieve your future goals. By doing so, you are able to attend not only colleges, but trade programs/schools, and other training to help you obtain the career that you want. Education and Employment go hand in hand.

Self-Esteem: This may not be your main reason for obtaining your high school equivalency but it definitely will help your self-esteem. As mentioned earlier, this is not easy, so by completing it you gain a sense of accomplishment and pride. You worked hard, you earned this! By setting a goal, working towards that goal, and then completing that goal, shows that anything is possible when you set your mind to it and work towards it. Not only will this help you, but you will be an example to those around you.

For these reasons, and many more that were not mentioned, completing the GED or high school equivalency is so important, and so worth it! There is much to gain with not much to lose. Completing the GED does not need to be a race, you can take your time and work towards it. Find the supports and motivators that will help you achieve it. “I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it!”

So if you are ready to create this goal and start working towards it, your first step would be to make an appointment with the transition coordinator at our school. In this appointment, you will take an appraisal test to see where you are starting at. This test is $5 cash, you will need an ID, and it runs about an hour long. Right after the test, you will meet with the transition coordinator to discuss your results, what class options or preparation is best for you, and what to expect for the GED tests (costs, way to sign up, test dates, etc). Also in this appointment, you will set some goals so that we can help with transitioning to the next steps. From there, the rest is up to you. We are here to help! Give the Hawai'i State Community School for Adults a call at (808) 594-0540 to schedule your appointment.