Speaker: Roderick T.
What led you to leave high school as a teen? What motivated you to go back to high school at this time in your life?
Roderick T.: I say, what led me to leave high school as a teen. Just growing up fast, growing up fast, hanging with the wrong crowd, not listening to my parents. What motivated me to go back to school this time in my life is because I have kids and I want their future to be bright, and I don't want them to follow the mistakes that I did. And I also wanted to have a certificate, a high school diploma, to show my kids that it's cool to go to school and learn and listen and be somebody one day.
Why did you choose this program?
Roderick T.: The reason why I choose this program, I figured it was the best fit for me. I mean, I did actual school classes, but I just felt like online and this program was best because I'm in my own space. You know, I'm not around a lot of people. I can actually think, get my thoughts. I'm not, I ain't got to worry about being ashamed and asking crazy questions, you know, and plus, like I say, the people was very nice when I first reached out to them. They opened their doors with open arms, great hospitality.
What parts of the program helped you make it to graduation?
Roderick T.: I say the tutors, the teachers constantly reaching out consecutively reaching out to you, let you know how good of a job you're doing, you know, don't give up. You're almost there, just encouragement, just. You know, letting the person know when, when they, when they, when they exceed, even if, you know, they feel like I want to see they still gave me motivational speeches to keep me in there and wanted to stick around and want to graduate.
How has your life and/or mindset changed since earning your high school diploma? What are your plans now that you've graduated?
Roderick T.: How has it changed my life and my mindset? It changed tremendously. I now got a piece of paper that, you know, I can go anywhere. I want to go like I can go to college, I can take up a trade. I don't have to worry about being ashamed and letting people know I don't have my high school diploma. What are my plans now that I graduated? I've enrolled into Remington College to attend culinary arts because there's something that I love to do, cooking. I want to join a food business. Yes, I want to be a part of catering to the people and giving back to my community. Like I said, I just get a joy of cooking. I want to be able to please everybody if I can in some type of way.
What's one piece of encouragement you'd offer someone who is considering this program?
Roderick T.: I say go for it. It's great, you know, they work with you. They're very nice, like I say you know, it's a great thing, it's a great experience. It's a great atmosphere. Like I say, the people are nice. They treat you with kindness, you know, and it's just, you know, it's never too late. When you feel like, you know what I'm saying, you're over with, you completed, it's never too late. It's never too late to get your diploma. You always want to give yourself at least that drive, that lane because like I said, I've been going on so long just kind of procrastinate, procrastinate, procrastinate, but I finally got over the hump. I finally got over it because I felt like I couldn't do it, but I did it. So to anybody out there, this is a great program. They real, you know, they real down to earth. They real nice people. Like I say, you know, any type of help that you feel like you need, reach out to them. They will help you in the best way they can.
