I dropped out of high school, most people don’t know this because I went on to get two college degrees, excel and do fairly well for myself. That’s generally not the path that a high school dropout takes but I did..
The funny thing is that despite my dropping out, I actually finished my Associate Degree faster than most of the people I went to high school with. See, I didn’t drop out because I was careless or wanted to hang out in the street. I After dropping out, I joined a program at the Bronx Girl’s Club designed to help people develop life skills and find employment. It was there I met Mrs. Thompson, who actually discouraged me from taking one of the immediate job offers. Instead, she encouraged me to enroll at Monroe College for their 24-credit program. That program set me on a path to graduate ahead of most of my former classmates. After completing the vocational program, I started taking college classes at Monroe College. Time-wise, I probably started college around the same time they would have, but I took six classes every semester while most students took four. The school allowed me to do this because of my strong performance. I can’t quite recall if they had me start with four or five classes to assess my capability, but I soon took on six and aced them all. I finished in about five semesters, roughly two semesters faster than most students. That’s how I graduated before the students from the high school class I should have been part of. If you’re curious about the 24-credit program, it allows students to start college-level coursework similar to what high school graduates take. Once you earn 24 credits, the state grants you a GED without having to take the GED test. I earned mine simply by showing I could perform at the college level. If you dropped out and want to move forward, a program like this makes a lot of sense if it’s available. Instead of spending time preparing for a GED test, you could be working toward college credits and simultaneously earn a GED. It seemed like the best option for me. There are opportunities out there for all of us, even for high school dropouts like me. You just have to trust those who guide you along the way. Mrs. Thompson was one of those people for me, and we’re still in touch. I remain deeply grateful for her support back then. Just a life long New Yorker sharing the journey through my lens. Please take note of a post’s date. The views I express here are subject to change and evolving as I grow and learn.
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