Ida

“Don’t wait for someone to change your life” was Ida’s response when asked what advice she’d give others who are thinking about returning to school to get their high school diploma or equivalency. Ida is 68 years old and recently returned to Next Step to get her high school diploma. Ida comes in two to three times a week to work towards completing her credits with a tutor. She is an incredibly motivated and diligent worker. In her own words, Ida explains below why she has chosen to finish her diploma:

Education is important. I’m returning to school for myself and for my mother who always wanted to see me graduate. I left school in 11th grade and started a life. I had kids and now have grandchildren. I wanted to come back to school to set an example for my grandchildren, and to be able to help them with their schooling.

Ida is one of many students whose return to Next Step had been brought forth by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Like many others, she has extra time, and has decided to put that time to beneficial use in furthering her education. When asked how she stays motivated in her studies, she said, “focus on the things that move you forward, and not the things that hold you back.” Furthermore, she described how important it is to have supportive people surrounding you. She remarked how thankful she is for her tutor, and how caring the Next Step staff is in supporting her educational journey.