Finishing What I Started: A Mother’s Journey to Her High School Diploma

I was born and raised in the Bay Area, and like many teenagers, I thought I had life figured out. I was fifteen when my parents divorced, and everything began to unravel. I bounced from place to place, staying with different family members and drifting onto the wrong path, determined to “do my own thing.” My aunt tried to help by enrolling me in school, but I spent more time cutting class and hanging out at the park than I did in the classroom. Missing so much school set me far behind, and although I was placed in continuation school to make up credits, my behavior didn’t change. I kept skipping class, ignoring consequences, and not taking life seriously.

At seventeen, I became pregnant. I left the traditional high school setting and tried computer tech classes, but I eventually dropped out. A few years later, pregnant with my second child, I was living on my own on welfare and Section 8, doing my best to keep us afloat. Through this, I got connected with a program called GAIN—Greater Avenues for Independence. They placed me in the medical assistant program at Hayward Adult School, where I excelled and earned my certificate. I found a job and continued working, even after the birth of my third child. I eventually became a single mother of four, facing abusive partners, addiction in relationships, and the relentless demands of survival.

I held jobs wherever I could, including working at a hotel and later joining a staffing agency as a coordinator. Along the way, I met and married my husband—the steady, loving partner I had always needed. In 2003, we moved to the Central Valley, and for the first time, I no longer needed welfare or outside aid. I commuted for work for years, worked hard, and earned a promotion to Operations Manager—still carrying the secret that I had never earned my high school diploma.

Life challenged me again when I battled and recovered from cancer, but I kept going. I remained with the same company for 18 years, until I unexpectedly lost my job in July 2025. Despite my experience, I struggled to find work at my level. Employers needed proof of education, and to keep the title I had earned through dedication, a higher degree was required. That frustration lit a fire inside me. I was done hiding the fact that I never graduated. I was ready to finish what I started.

Searching online, I found LearningQuest’s HSE program. While looking for work, I committed myself to classes, even though I wasn’t sure what career direction to take next. I stayed motivated because I wanted to validate myself—to prove that I could finish something for me. I studied hard, stayed consistent, and refused to give up. When I passed my last test and graduated in October 2025, it felt like a weight lifted from my shoulders. I wasn’t hiding anymore.

In November 2025, I received two job offers in the staffing industry and accepted the one that felt right. It feels so good to be back in the industry I worked so hard for.

Today, my husband and I have been happily married for 22 years, and all four of my children are high school graduates—one of my proudest accomplishments. My family’s encouragement carried me through this journey, and I am deeply grateful for LearningQuest and the HSE program. Completing my diploma didn’t just open a door—it freed me from the roadblock that had been holding me back for decades.

I’ve always taken pride in my hard work, but earning my high school diploma has been the ultimate fulfillment of my success story.