Student Spotlight: Ricky

My name is Ricky, and my path to earning my high school equivalency diploma did not follow the usual route.

For a while, school just was not working for me. I did well up until sixth grade, but everything changed during the coronavirus pandemic when classes moved online. Spending everyday learning on an iPad was difficult. There was not much one on one time with teachers or tutors, and it became harder to stay connected to school.

When in person classes returned in seventh grade, things did not get much easier. Being around hundreds of people brought on a lot of social anxiety, and my grades started to slip. C’s, D’s, and even F’s became common. Eventually, I withdrew from New Haven Alternative School. I also got into a couple of fights along the way. One started when a friend and I were horseplaying and it turned into a full-on fistfight. Another time, I stepped in when a friend was being hit with a spiked cleat. Practicing my future UFC skills in school probably was not the best choice.

Even though traditional high school did not work out, Ricky was not ready to give up on his education. He came to The Literacy Alliance with a clear goal: earn his HSE and start building the future he wanted.

Ricky began classes in November. One of the things he noticed right away was the difference in the classroom environment. Instead of crowded classrooms with twenty-five or more students, his class at The Literacy Alliance usually has about ten to fifteen people. That smaller setting made it easier to focus and helped ease the social anxiety he had experienced in school.

The schedule also worked better. Classes are three hours long, three days a week, which gave Ricky the structure he needed without feeling overwhelming. Since he is not much of a morning person, the evening classes were a perfect fit.

The support from teachers and tutors made a big difference as well. Ricky says “Megan and Tanisha have been some of the best teachers he has had in his entire school career. They are easygoing but also push students to work harder and stay focused on their goals.”

That support paid off. Ricky passed the GED exams and earned his high school equivalency diploma in early 2026.

Now he is looking ahead. His plan is to attend trade school and become a certified welder. After earning his welding certifications on land, he hopes to become dive certified so he can work in coastal and deep-sea welding. It is a challenging career path, but Ricky is excited about the opportunities ahead.

Outside of school, Ricky enjoys spending time outdoors. He loves river fishing and plans to do plenty of it while working toward his dive certifications. He also likes off roading on his four-wheeler and has visited dozens of off-road parks across several states. And yes, he still enjoys sparring and wrestling with friends.

For Ricky, earning his HSE was an important first step. It removes roadblocks and opens the door to the future he is building for himself. At The Literacy Alliance, stories like Ricky’s remind us why adult education matters. It gives people a second chance, new confidence, and the tools they need to move forward.

We cannot wait to see what Ricky accomplishes next.