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 The amount of difficulty I experienced at school was overwhelming. Bullying is hard anywhere, but in some environments it can be especially harsh. It wasn’t just about lunch money or homework; it included threats of violence and physical confrontations. It was a difficult and dangerous situation.
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.
Some of my friends earned their GEDs and then chose to enter the workforce. Everyone has their own path, and that’s okay. I’m not here to judge.
One could say the Girl’s Club program played a big role in changing my life. At the very least, it gave me a better quality of life. After graduating, my hard work paid off and I secured one of the better jobs offered by the school, spending 18 years working between Midtown and Wall Street at one of the largest investment banks in the world.
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.