I work from 7am to 6pm, and take GED classes from 7pm to 9pm at the school name Academy of Hope. I couldn't drive and had a small income, so I walked to school most of the time and sometime I took the bus back home.
English is my second language, I never been to a proper English school system before, in my country I only finished grad 6. Therefore, I had to work harder than everyone else to get GED. I study very hard, and I do it everywhere I can. I study in the coffee shop, in library, in the park etc. I even started a study blog online to get commends from different people about my English writing skill. I always find the way to learn, and to get better in what I've learned.
In DC GED official test often happened in the morning, all students had to got up early and make sure they had good breakfast and be in the testing room by 7am. During my study in DC I took GED official test three times.
The last time I've took the test was on October 4th 2010. And that time I was 7 months pregnant with my first daughter. I never forget that morning, I didn't sleep at all the night before, and I had very bad morning sickness, I vomited non stop and had a strong headache. My ex-boss said to me " are you ok? you should not go for this test, you look really sick." I responded "I'm fine, I can take the test. If I don't take it today I have to wait another three months." But inside of me felt like I was dying. Somehow, I still manage to got up, washed my face and went to GED testing center and took the test.
I took five subjects that day, during the test I wasn't feel good at all, imagine being 7 months pregnant and had to site in GED testing room for 7 hours, only 5 minutes break. I have to be honest I felt awful, but I did pushed it through.
Two weeks after I took the test, my visa is running out and my ex-boss's family moved to Africa, I had no place to stay and I didn't have any family in DC at that time, so therefore, I had to move back to my country (Cambodia).
One month after I arrived Cambodia, I gave birth to my daughter Isabel, my life changed, and it's never been the same since. I was thinking about my GED tested resulted, I left the US without knowing the result of my test. I was very sad.
When my daughter was three months old, I email Academy of Hope (the school in DC) asked them to send my GED tested result by email. My tested result shown "FAILED" again! That was my third times that I failed the test, I was very disappointed, I tried really hard. But the good thing was my score grow up to 2230 and to pass GED I need 2250, that's mean I only need another 20 points to pass.
I looked at my score and thought "Oh well, there're nothing I can do about it, I am in Cambodia now, having a baby, this is my life right now, I have to focus on what I have now." But deep inside of me there was a little voice that I said to myself "If I ever have a chance to go back to the U.S again, I will try again, and this time I will try hard enough to pass this test!"
August 7th 2012, I moved back to America with my daughter Isabel and her father Michael. We got married two weeks after we arrived the US, and live in Delaware ever since. My husband has to work hard everyday to support me and our daughter, and myself is a stay at home mom. Very boring life and very difficult for me, because in Cambodia I was very active and also I am a creative person, for me not to work at all is not possible. When I moved to Delaware, I couldn't drive and didn't know the area very well. Plus, I was in the process of waiting for my working permit and permanent residency (Green Card). I wanted to take some classes and retake GED test, but it is hard since I can't drive yet. It was very frustrated at first, but everyone in my husband family very supportive and do anything they could to help out. even-thought they very busy with their daily life.
To go get back on track with my GED classes, I decided to contact Elizabeth from Academy of Hope explain her about my goal to get GED. She advised me to keep study on GED book and she signed me up on GED Online classes!
Since I signed up on online GED classes, I study as much as possible and also work really hard on GED book.
On November 5th 2012, three months after I moved back to the U.S. I retake GED official test again and I passed the test. I really proud of myself :) and very grateful to those who had involve helped me through my study. I finally did it!
Special thanks to Jenne-marie Smith, Matthew Heyward, Alan Feinberg, who had volunteer their valuable time tutored me. And also many thanks to those who hard work in Academy of Hope during my time there. Thanks to my best friend Daniel, who found the school for me and help me in anyway he could. Also big thanks to Caroline, Jolyon my ex-bosses who were really kind to me and make my work flexible and easy so that I can go to school, without your support, I have no idea where the hell I am right now! And also thank you to Kathleen Beegle and Christ who helped me out with Isabel in my graduation day in DC.
Finally, to those who live in DC area that interested in taking classes for your GED or adult education. I would recommend Academy of Hope school, the best adult education I ever experience, their staffs very helpful and friendly. The people who work in this school made me feel like I'm their family. I felt very welcome and really appreciate everyone in the school. Please keep up your good work!
