Success Stories

TYRONE’S STORY

Tyrone T. was determined to obtain his high school equivalency diploma. He began attending classes at Bergen Community College Ciarco Learning Center and soon was meeting a volunteer tutor through Project Literacy who helped him prepare for the exam. This undertaking was especially challenging for Tyrone, as he was wheelchair-bound due to infantile cerebral palsy.

Tyrone has a strong and cheerful spirit and his determination won out and he passed his high school equivalency test. Tyrone is now fulfilling his dream of working as a mentor encouraging handicapped young people and adults to continue their education.

DEEPA’S STORY

Deepa had been in the US for two years when she applied for Project Literacy’s Carmen Pichardo Scholarship. Deepa wanted to take classes to improve her reading and writing. Her goal was to pass the GED (General Educational Development test, a high school equivalency exam).

With the help of the scholarship, Deepa enrolled in classes at the Bergen Community College Ciarco Learning Center. Three classes later, she took the GED. “Finally I passed!” said Deepa when she got her scores. “The most important thing is I studied hard, hard, hard. Sometimes I didn't have enough sleep because I was studying.”

Deepa continued, “In my country I didn't do it [pass high school], but here in the US I did it! In my language I didn't pass, but I did it in English! It's a new language for me.”

Deepa's daughter said she figured it all out by herself, and if Deepa didn't understand something she would turn to online sources.

“Today I ran a good race, a marathon.” And she won. Congratulations Deepa!

ANTHONY’S STORY

Thank God for giving me the will and determination to keep fighting for my GED. Since 1996 I have struggled to pass the math section of the test. About two years ago when I was taking classes, I found myself very frustrated with the math. I just couldn't comprehend it. It looked like one big puzzle.

I came to Project Literacy and signed up for a math tutor. Kathy matched me with the amazing John. He gave me that boost of energy that I never thought I could get because I was too weak in math. He is as cool as a fan. He helped me realize that math and algebra were not a puzzle, but numbers hidden behind the puzzle of letters and symbols. He helped me to relax, and told me that if I couldn't solve the problem in two minutes or less, to leave it and come back to it.

I worked with John from January to April of this year, and I took the test on April 16. I got the results the following day. When I heard I passed, I didn't believe it at first.

John always said, "left to right". Whatever you do on the left side, you have to do on the right side in order to solve the problem. It was a joke, but not really a joke. His words helped me pass the test.