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In as we speak’s aggressive workforce, having a highschool diploma can drastically enhance your revenue and high quality of life. In actual fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has discovered that top college graduates earn 25 p.c greater than those that haven’t graduated. Sadly, life generally will get in the way in which.
Presently, in St. Louis County, Missouri alone, greater than 57,000 individuals over the age of 25 don’t have any highschool diploma. At St. Louis County Library (SLCL), we’re dedicated to serving to this subsection of the inhabitants proceed their training and discover fulfilling, well-paying careers. Via Gale Presents: Excel Grownup Excessive College, we offer adults with an simply accessible technique to earn a highschool diploma for gratis.
How this system works
SLCL launched our diploma completion program in late 2017, and since then we have now had 122 graduates. We’ve funding from our library basis, so we’re capable of provide this system for gratis to 50 candidates a yr. Although we promote the scholarships, the first method individuals study them is thru phrase of mouth. We had a big surge of curiosity after we held a commencement ceremony final yr. In a single occasion, a mom signed up after seeing her daughter’s expertise with this system.
Earlier than candidates start this system, they full a self-assessment and an interview. They earn credit score for programs accomplished at different accredited excessive faculties or homeschools in addition to parts of the GED®, HiSET®, or TASC that they’ve handed. College students can take as much as 2 years to complete this system, and alongside the way in which they’ve entry to educational coaches, in addition to profession and school planning. They will select from 40 high-interest electives related to fast-growing occupations together with science, expertise, and healthcare, and we additionally present work alternatives and apprenticeships to program contributors.
Final yr, we had 10 graduates, which included some unbelievable success tales: a lady who began her personal enterprise after finishing this system, a husband and spouse who had adopted kids early in life and determined to assist their household by going by way of this system collectively, and Zemira Zigic, a Bosnian immigrant.
Zemira Zigic’s journey: From refugee to graduate
Although each one who has gone by way of this system has an inspiring story, Zemira’s distinctive background and great drive make her an distinctive instance of how a diploma-completion program can change an individual’s life.
Zemira Zigic is a Bosnian who immigrated to the U.S. in 1998 on the age of 17, settling in St. Louis. Although she attended highschool in her native nation, she didn’t obtain her highschool diploma due to the Bosnian Conflict. Whereas it had at all times been her dream to get a highschool diploma, it will have price greater than a thousand {dollars} to get it from her house nation. Many immigrants–particularly refugees–face this drawback once they immigrate to a rustic the place their educational credit could not switch, and so they could also be too previous to reap the benefits of public training alternatives.
Shortly after arriving within the US, Zemira discovered employment to assist herself and continued to work in varied positions through the years. Earlier than she enrolled in Excel Grownup Excessive College, Zemira had a strenuous job that paid $17 an hour–however had been supplied a better high quality function that paid $27 an hour if she might earn her highschool diploma. Motivated by this new job alternative, she completed the necessities inside a yr, graduating this previous Could. “And after I knew I had my diploma,” she mentioned, “I began crying instantly.”
Together with her diploma in hand, she instantly started her new job, which is extra pleasurable and earns practically 60 p.c greater than earlier than. Zemira has inspired “each single one who doesn’t have their highschool diploma,” together with her husband, a self-employed supply driver, to discover the Excel Grownup Excessive College program supplied by way of the library. Inside her native Bosnian group, there was disbelief that such a chance existed, however now that she has graduated, everybody can see for themselves it’s true and are glad for her. Incomes her diploma has been such a monumental change in her life that she urges anybody who thinks they’re too previous to rethink.
And highschool was just the start of Zemira’s academic journey. After finishing Excel Grownup Excessive College, she went on to earn a Healthcare Certification from the Washington College in St. Louis, College of Persevering with & Skilled Research. The college supplied this 3-month program to assist our grownup highschool graduates kickstart their careers by getting ready them for jobs as affected person care techs, medical assistants, medical scribes, and different positions. Zemira accomplished this system in December 2023. Impressed by her success, her sister is enrolled in Excel Grownup Excessive College.
Final yr, 11 graduates accomplished the Healthcare Certification program, after which had been instantly interviewed by the Washington College College of Medication. The hospital system is seeking to rent about 3,000 individuals by way of its apprenticeship program over the subsequent 5 years. We hope to assist as many individuals as doable to earn these jobs in order that, like Zemira, they will fulfill their desires.
Laura Ascione is the Editorial Director at eSchool Media. She is a graduate of the College of Maryland’s prestigious Philip Merrill Faculty of Journalism.
