A few years back, when I was an Afterschool Program Facilitator (LEAP Leader) at my neighborhood library, one of the mothers of a student who regularly attended came in and asked if I could help her with some school work. When I noticed the title of the book she was holding, Passing The G.E.D., I immediately knew I had to help!

Why? 

Because I had dropped out of high school (10th grade to be precise) and acquiring a G.E.D. allowed me to get an A.A.S. from the Community College of Philadelphia, a B.A. from Temple University, and an MSLIS from Drexel University. I had firsthand knowledge that a General Equivalence Degree was a stepping stone that could put a person on the path to lifelong learning, higher education, and self -betterment.

High School is certainly not for everyone. Whatever a person’s reason for leaving, be it poor learning environment, shoddy teaching, or (in my personal case) the inability to sit still for more than 5 minutes, a departure from secondary school does not mean a departure from learning. Picking up the G.E.D. prep book and taking prep classes is the first step on a life-changing path.

Some places to sign up for G.E.D. test preparation are:

The Office of Adult Education
They can assist in helping a person find the right G.E.D. program, as well as link them with tutors.

Community College of Philadelphia:
GED Test Prep Class
For Adults who have been away from school for a while and want to get their G.E.D.

Gateway To College
For students aged 16 to 21 called

The Community Learning Center
The Center offers both remote and on-site G.E.D. test prep, as well as basic reading and math skills tutoring.

You can also find many G.E.D. books and ebooks in our catalog and additional electronic resources and online course through our Digital Learning portal to help you prepare for the G.E.D.

As for the Afterschool mom who I started off telling you about, I ran into her a little while back and she told me with pride how she had passed her test and was now enrolled in night classes, well on her way to getting her college diploma. The journey of a thousand miles truly starts with one step.