Somewhere between getting a General Education Development (GED) certificate and going to college, a lapse may occur for many students who didn’t finish high school.
In response to this need, Richland College developed the GED Transition Program, a six-week, intensive, college readiness program for individuals ages 17 and older who have passed the GED test and want to go to college but don’t feel prepared.
LaTasha Mack was one of those students. She was a great student when growing up in El Dorado, Ark., but a pregnancy at age 14 changed everything.
"Being a mother made school rough," LaTasha said. "I tried it for a little while but it was too hard trying to go to school and take care of my son. I dropped out and started working."
LaTasha had another child, a daughter, and continued working. She gave up on her dream of finishing high school or going to college.
In 1997, LaTasha moved her family to Dallas, where she had relatives, saying, "I wanted more for my children. I didn't want them to take the wrong path like I did."
Her family got settled in Dallas. LaTasha got a few jobs to make ends meet, but she noticed that more and more employers were requiring a high school diploma or GED certificate. She tried to take to GED classes once, but it was difficult to find evening courses and she was exhausted from working and single-parenting two active children.
Finally when LaTasha's son graduated from high school in 2012, she enrolled in a GED program through the Texas Workforce Commission. Her children were supportive, even offering to have their cell phones turned off to help pay for classes and books.
LaTasha finished the program and passed the GED exam with flying colors. At her GED graduation ceremony, LaTasha met Deborah Hill, coordinator of Richland’s GED Transition Program.
Ms. Hill explained that Richland College’s GED Transition Program includes college prep classes in reading, writing, math and student success. She also let LaTasha know that through a grant, qualified applicants may take the program at no expense, including books and tutoring.
Ms. Hill reassured LaTasha that it wasn’t too late to achieve her dream.
“I have a passion for students and I firmly believe that everyone should be able to go to college if that’s what they desire,” Ms. Hill said. “Many of our potential students still have it in the back of their minds that they will fail. My staff and I make sure they know they can do it and we will help.”
Even the word "college" was scary for LaTasha so Richland's GED Transition Program was appealing to her.
"Algebra was my hardest subject. I feared it," she said."I knew that Richland's program could help me."
LaTasha enrolled in the GED Transition Program in summer 2012 and did well in the course. The rigorous schedule was a lesson itself, she said.
"It got me ready for college," LaTasha said. "It was intense. You really learn how to manage your time. We all had jobs and families and kids. You had to push yourself through the GED Transition Program. If you could do that, you could do the same in college."
Today LaTasha is a student at Cedar Valley College, close to her home. She’s taking the basics and plans to transfer to Northwood University to study business management.
Enrollment is open now for the GED Transition Program course starting in June. Class size is limited. Students must be enrolled by May 28. For more information, visit www.richlandcollege.edu/gedtransitions, call 214-890-3811 or email GEDTransition-RLC@dcccd.edu. GED Transition Program information sessions are held at 10 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday in El Paso Hall, Room E056.
Richland College, an equal opportunity institution, is located at 12800 Abrams Road in Dallas.