Student Spotlight: Crystal

“School was hard for me because I was the shy kid everyone liked to pick on…I let people bully me to the point I did not want to go anymore.” In 2018, years after leaving High School, Crystal came to The Literacy Alliance to finish what she started. She knew that it would be a challenge to fit class and study time into an already busy work schedule, but she was ready to try.

Crystal worked hard both in and out of class. Due to some struggles with short-term memory, she sometimes had to sit with a lesson more than once. Many people may have grown frustrated and quit, but not Crystal. Instead, she stuck with the program for two years, staying focused on her goals of getting her high school equivalency (HSE) diploma and becoming a baker.

“I’ve learned so much since starting this program. Math that I have never seen before I am doing now! …It has been a long road for me, but I don’t plan on stopping!”

On her first attempt at taking the HSE, Crystal passed every subject except for math. At first, it was disappointing for her to realize she would have to re-take the math subtest. After all, she had been less than ten points away from passing. Still balancing work and home, Crystal kept coming to class and kept studying.

Crystal graduated with her HSE in March 2021 and celebrated with her family shortly after. She plans to enroll at Ivy Tech Community College to pursue culinary training. Crystal is leaving The Literacy Alliance with newfound confidence and a future full of possibilities.

“I’ve learned so much since starting this program. Math that I have never seen before I am doing now! …It has been a long road for me, but I don’t plan on stopping!”