Glendy Vega, Graduate

“I needed to get a better job,” states Glendy Vega.  An adult without a high school diploma or GED will earn 42% less than an adult with a diploma or GED.

As a single mother of two young daughters, Glendy knew that she had to go back to school in order to enrich the life of her family.  She heard about Seeds of Literacy and began her studies at St. Colman’s in October of 2005.  Over the following year and a half, Glendy worked on Reading, Writing, Science, Social Studies, and of course, Math.

The GED is actually several tests, designed to measure the major academic skills and knowledge acquired during four years of high school.  When an adult passes the seven and one-half hours of GED testing, he or she is certified that this knowledge has been attained.  Seeds of Literacy is one of thirteen programs in Cuyahoga County that offer the Official GED Practice Test.

After a lot of hard work and perseverance, Glendy received her GED in June of 2007.  “I’m just so grateful; so grateful to this program.  This was my key; the key Seeds provided.  I think that without the tutors and staff, I would not have been able to do it at all.  I would have quit a long time ago.”

Forging ahead, Glendy is planning to continue her education and her brighter future.  “I hope to start in the fall at Tri-C for my prerequisites.  My goal is to become a registered nurse; hopefully that’s next.”

Amanda Lemon, Graduate

Amanda Lemon never thought getting her mail could change her life.  But it did. 

One summer day as she went to retrieve her mail, she noticed a simple, double-sided card hanging on her doorknob. It advertised the Free GED program at Seeds of Literacy. “I had tried three GED programs before getting the Seeds flyer on my door.  I certainly had my doubts based on my past experiences but I decided to give it a try.”  Tenaciously, Amanda attended classes, believing a GED was key to improving her life.

“I enjoy learning and this has been the most rewarding experience of my life.  I love the hands-on approach and the one-to-one tutoring that I receive.  The tutors and staff are wonderful and it was not long before I felt like they were my friends.  Everyone made me feel as though there were no stupid questions and they gave me the encouragement that I hadn’t received in quite a long time.”

The work of Amanda and her tutors paid off.  She took the test that December, passing on her first try. Amanda continues to work at a manufacturing company that produces components for electrical products, but now she is even more passionate about studying robotics and computers as her next step.  “I am more excited about my future now than I have been in a long time.  Receiving my GED has been a goal that I have had for quite some time, but until I came to Seeds, I did not think that I would be able to get it.  I am so thankful that I found that Seeds flyer on my door and decided to give my goal of getting my GED one more try.” 

Marisol Rojas, Graduate

For many Seeds of Literacy students, taking care of others — children, parents or a family member with health problems — comes before taking care of themselves.  The result is an education put on pause.

Marisol Rojas is one of those students.  “I was taking care of my children, making sure they got through school because they had difficulties with illness.  So I decided to put my education on hold until I had them go through school.  My oldest was just graduating this year so then I decided to come back and get my GED so I could continue my education.”

Marisol’s diligent work with Seeds tutors allowed her to pass her GED in about four months.  She credits her success in part to the atmosphere of openness that she found at Seeds.  “I saw that I wasn’t by myself.  I wasn’t just there, not being able to understand things.  I had somebody to come to and ask for advice.”

Like many other students, Marisol talks about student-tutor interaction as much as she does the GED curriculum.  While the Seeds curriculum prepares the student for taking and passing the GED, the relationships formed provide support and motivation that reach beyond the test as a final goal.

In Marisol’s case, she’s planning a positive future.  “I enrolled in Tri-C and am taking courses there.  I’m almost done with the semester; I’m doing my finals now.  I’m looking forward to going on in the fall and spring.  My goal is to get my two-year degree in business.  I would either like to manage a store or even run my own consignment store with my friend.”