Equivalency Diploma

Every child should have multiple routes to receive a high school diploma. Students that have not successfully passed the standardized test but have completed four years of course work with passing grades, should qualify to uniquely demonstrate proficiency to receive a diploma and participate in the graduation ceremony.

I have the drive and determination to obtain a degree and finish school. In my family’s history, it was always a challenge to finish high school. I knew that I wanted to go further in life because I knew I had the potential to be something. I then worked hard to obtain my GED. After receiving my degree, I have attended school so that I can work in the health field to become a CNA. This was a great journey for me. I had come across many bumps in the road, but I kept the faith and I worked hard so that I can complete what I had started. I desired to be a finisher, to finish whatever project or task I begin. Completing the course for my GED was a great milestone, but when I finished school recently and passed all the required tests to become a CNA, it was the proudest moment of my life. That is when I really realized that there is nothing impossible or too hard for God. I realized that as long as I keep Him first then I can do anything I put my mind to do. I have really grown and understood what it means in the book of James where it states “faith without works is dead.” I’ve always had faith, but I needed to grasp the concept that in order to be successful in life, you have to work at

After much time thinking and praying about this my wife and I decided that change in our life would be a good thing. I went back to my position of a commercial truck driver at FedEx. I work four ten-hour shifts with Tuesdays and the weekends off. Another important factor in my life is my church, my church family, and the calling that the Lord has given to me in my life. My wife and I are the children’s pastors and love our ministry and our children. We have realized that this is our home and where God want us. If I continued on the path of management we would have had to move in the future. Our pastors are realizing that their getting near retirement age and want to train the new leaders in our church. I have completed a three-year School of Ministry course and have been ordained as a Pastor. I now have a sense of peace and comfort that I’m doing what God has called of me in my life. But there is a piece that I’m missing. That piece is finishing my education. It’s always been a goal of mine to get a degree. It’s now my goal to get an Associates degree in biblical studies. I’m also still thinking about even getting my Bachelor’s and eventually getting a Masters in

At a minimum, higher learning hopefuls must possess a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) to begin classes. To acquire a GED, individuals must pass a standardized test the measure competency in high school academics and the likelihood of success in college classes. After passing the GED exam, learning can enter any community college, institutions that often serve as launch pads to four-year colleges. Community colleges typically cost less compared to other learning venues, and students advance with a certificate or associate’s degree or by transferring to a four-year college.

I had a pastor tell me, if I was going to fulfill the call on my life, I needed to go back to school and earn a theological degree. Honestly, I did not think about his advice very much. I already had a Bachelor degree in teaching. We began Donna Renfro Ministries in December 2003. In December 2004, I had the car wreck and my life changed forever this side of Heaven. By 2009, I had physically healed enough to consider degree seeking. Kevin and I made the decision to embark upon the journey of obtaining a Master's Degree at Emmanuel Christian Seminary. Over the course of the last seven years, I have earned two master's degrees and on June 26, 2016 I will graduate with my second doctorate degree. I have attended four separate schools for my graduate degrees. There was no way for any human to predict in 2003 what tribulations my family was going to face, but God knew. However, the pastor who advised me concerning theological degrees had given me the perfect advice for this season of our life. I earned my Master of Biblical Studies, Master of Religious Education, and Doctorate of Biblical Counseling after many surgeries including my first brain surgery. Now, I will graduate with my PhD in Theology after my second brain surgery. Going back to school taught me far more than Greek, Theology, or Christian History. I realized I could still learn, retain information, make goals, and achieve the goals in spite of facing death, an extremely ill child, and having my husband diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, which was later changed to NMO. The car wreck took my neck mobility away; but, it did not take my life

Hello, my name is Yolanda Page. I graduated from high school in 1998. When I was a teenager I use to love to write in my journal, but, that ended over 20 years ago. Over the last 18 years, I have been a full-time stay at home mother of 8 amazing children. I love to take care of my family, which is a full-time job in its self that never ends. In 2012, I began attending Bethel University. I have encountered countless amounts of issues writing academically throughout my college career thus far. Maybe, I lack the understanding and confidence that it takes to be a good writer. Hopefully that will change someday.

We all have dreams. My mother always dreamed of being a teacher; however, life took her for another turn and her dreams were not fulfilled. She became a stay at home mom instead. She used me to achieve her dreams of being a teacher; therefore, I became her student. From the age of three, she began to teach me the basics of reading and writing. By the time I started kindergarten, I was very advanced in reading for my age. My first day of school, I was appalled when my classmates could not read simple words. Did their mothers not teach them to read like mine had? This was the start to my reading and writing journey. My writing history has had a significant influence on my current writing strengths, weaknesses, and style.

-Now this, I feel I can do. I can write casually, in a freewriting type of way. I can write poems to my girlfriend, I’ve created love songs and raps. I have written on controversial topics such as population control, gun control, Marijuana Legalization, etc. I have written stories, persuasive essays, argumentative essays, and beyond. I love to read about new sciences like the gut bacteria being linked to mental disorders. I love to read stories like The Alchemist and The Hobbit. Most of all I love to read books on self-improvement and how to leadership, for example, “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” and “Leading With The Heart.”

After my grandmother passed away a couple of years ago, I knew that I wanted to honor her by completing my degree. She was my hero, my idol, in so many ways. She had her Master’s degree and had worked while raising children during a time when society frowned upon a working, educated mother. As a devout Christian who was very active in her church and her community, I know that she helped to guide me to make this decision and I am confident that it was the right one. Between the thought of her and my readying myself for the next step in my career, I finally feel the motivation necessary to complete this journey. Completion of my educational goals will give me such a sense of accomplishment in my adult

One of my Air Force supervisors expressed the importance of completing an Associate’s Degree in order to progress in the ranks. Nick was a senior in high school and there was a bit of balancing to do; but I completed the three courses needed for the Community College of the Air Force. The short semesters at CCU were the selling point for me when I originally enrolled. My goal back then was solely focused on completing the three required courses for the College of the Air Force. However, there was something tugging at my heart that kept me longing for more at CCU. I was ready to begin a stronger walk with God. Questions were being answered that I needed in my life. I found myself becoming more familiar with the Bible. There was a time I would introduce myself as someone unfamiliar with God but as I took more classes, I understood, I was young in my Christian walk and I was ready to become closer to Him. I enjoyed opening in prayer and the requirement of completing Biblical courses. Time has passed since my first class at CCU back in 2008. Due to sporadic short work related travel out of the state and a transition from active duty to reserve, I have not been on track with

Hello, I'm La'Marion Patterson a 26 year old native of Dallas. I must add that I will be turning 27 on January 28th. I will be telling people I'm 21 though for about 2 months. LOL! My son is my pride and joy. He is such a handsome little guy that feels my life with a lot of joy. He is my reason for getting back in college to pursue my dream in becoming an elementary school principal. I love to talk but my confidence is at its lowest when it comes to writing. Other than this class being required for my degree plan, I am taking this class to become a better writer. When I’m not studying, everyone that knows me usually can find me at work, singing, taking pictures, at my sons school volunteering, or at a kid friendly place enjoying all the time

I just wanted to say how I read your article for the Odyssey, "Why Being a Writer Is So Scary" and I can 110% relate to it. Literally I went to school for teaching then when I realized it wasn't for me I decided I was always passionate about writing but I never showed anyone my work. Once I decided I was a writer I started my own blog. I wrote a couple short screenplays but my work was "sad bullshit" like you mentioned in your article. It wasn't until I started meditating that I realized I should create work that should be positive & uplifting once I changed my goal my work drastically changed for the better. I know as you mentioned writing could be hard at times and I just thought we could try to share advice, songs, or tips with

Continuing in the church was not free of difficulties. Because no one was there to stay with my daughter, I had to take her with me to the church. However, the rule was that children should be left in the daycare within the church. But if the child started crying, the mother was supposed to leave the class and take care of her baby. Unfortunately, I left the class many times for that reason. I felt that I should work hard more than what I had done. So, the other choice was enrolling in the University of Kansas (KU). What about my daughter? My husband was still busy. At the same time, I felt that I had wasted my time without a real gain. However, the price this time was more expensive. I

“If you wait for inspiration to write you're not a writer you're a waiter.” - Dan Poynter. I have felt like writing was not my greatest strength. I feel like I didn't have anything important to say. Looking back to my journal or diary call it whatever I would always write about how my life, the drama middle school me was in, my love life and the fights that would happen between me and my family. I wanted to reflect back on to my work and find out what my strength and my weakness. There have been times where I have been asked to read somebody else's writing. I would think it was so great that I felt discouraged that my work of writing wouldn’t be as great as theirs. My form of writing I feel is more characterized negatively because I don't share my success and triumph often as I would like to.I talk about my failures more. I feel like I do this because I don't want to share about my failures with another human. I know that I would like to write them down so then I can reflect back onto my failures and know how I could better myself and have a better chance of succeeding. I would disagree that my past life as a writer has given me a voice in the world mainly because of the topics I would write about. They weren’t important to others, they were only important to me. Writing in the past was more what was happening day to day and my relationship life, if anything exciting or upsetting happened, my honest opinions of people. Also the secret that I didn't want my mom to find out.

MH: Sometimes I feel as though I’ve been writing since before I could walk! As a child, I was always scribbling little adventure stories and compiling "books" for myself, so I guess that’s good training as any. I’ve never taken any professional writing courses and I always say that being a writer is not what I "do" but who I am.