Harper College will be closed Tuesday, November 5 in observance of Election Day.
Gricelda Adame-Garcia celebrated with her family after receiving her Illinois High School Diploma and speaking at Harper College's 2024 High School Diploma ceremony.
Brittney Raker uses the word “discouraged” to describe how she felt coming up short on credits as a senior in high school. Gricelda Adame-Garcia says she became “disappointed in myself” on her long journey to learn English and earn a high school diploma.
With the completion of their Illinois High School Diplomas (formerly known as High School Equivalency or GED certificates) at Harper College, these students’ feelings of discouragement and disappointment have been replaced by excitement, relief and optimism about the future. Brittney and Gricelda shared their stories as speakers at Harper’s 2024 diploma ceremony.
“I didn’t graduate from my high school because I was one and a half credits short,” said Brittney, 23. “Then they told me I had to attend summer school. I just gave up at that point. I was so discouraged.”
Gricelda’s path to her diploma began in 2016 when she decided to take English as a second language (ESL) courses. She had limited reading and speaking skills.
“When I’d get disappointed in myself taking years to finish, I’d get encouragement from my teachers to keep going,” said Gricelda, 43, who lives in Hoffman Estates. “When you focus on something you want to pursue, it’s worth it.”
Brittney returned to school with the encouragement of her boyfriend and his family. She knew that furthering her education was the only way to achieve the life she wanted.
“When you have a dead-end job, you realize the only way to get out of it is to push yourself to attend school,” she said. “It’s the best thing I could’ve done.”
Harper was convenient to Brittney’s Arlington Heights residence and offered night classes. The free tuition for the HSE program was further incentive. She credits Nancy Moore, Harper’s adult careers transitions navigator, with her success. “She was my advisor and she was wonderful.”
After falling one and a half credits shy of graduating high school in her senior year, Brittney Raker enrolled at Harper College to earn her Illinois High School Diploma.
Brittney used the Hawks Care Resource Center for support and worked on campus as a lab tech assistant in the Access and Disability Services office, assisting students who need audio textbooks. She has already enrolled in Harper’s associate degree program and wants to attend Northern Illinois University to study marketing.
Gricelda came to the U.S. from Mexico at age 19 without a high school diploma. She heard about Harper’s program from Partners for our Communities in Palatine.
“I thought why not, the courses are free,” she said. “And why not get my high school equivalency?”
She used Harper’s day care and preschool to help care for her youngest child. “I was working full time and I have three children,” she said. “It was challenging. It became too much, so I decided to postpone my studies until my youngest son was in all-day classes.”
Gricelda returned to her courses in 2019 but the pandemic brought new obstacles – having to acquire a computer and adjust to online learning. “I really wasn’t good at using technology. I felt very discouraged,” she said. “Then my teacher sent me an email to encourage me to continue. So I decided to stay in the program.”
As Gricelda pursued her diploma, repeating some classes multiple times, she accessed Harper’s online resources, used in-person tutoring for math and attempted to complete her hardest course – language arts – without using translation.
“My teacher kept saying ‘you can do it,’” she recalled. “Overall, I’m feeling relief that I won’t struggle so much with the (English) language now.”
Gricelda wants to attend courses in Harper’s Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program.
“I toured the HVAC room and it really impressed me,” she said. “I like working with my hands and prefer technical skills.”
Gricelda Adame-Garcia (left) and Brittney Raker were chosen to speak at Harper College's 2024 Illinois High School Diploma Ceremony.
Although their stories are very different, both graduates shared messages of encouragement at the ceremony. Their families were in the audience to hear them speak of their pride in attaining their goals.
Brittney told the audience: “Don’t give up on yourself and don’t go into a loop thinking there’s no way out. There is!”
Gricelda was nervous about speaking in English before an audience but viewed it as another learning opportunity.
“My main message is that you should pursue an education even though you’re struggling,” she said. “This is a blessing for my future.”