As a young mother before the age of 20, Iris Garcia put her education on hold for years to focus on her responsibilities at home. As her daughter grew, Garcia realized the importance of education and decided to pursue her dreams by going back to school.
It took her 10 years, three attempts and some renewed courage to take the exam to earn her GED (General Educational Development) from Bellevue College in 2008.
She is now more than halfway through requirements for a Associates of Arts degree and plans to transfer to a university to pursue a degree in International Business. She credits her success to sheer determination and a solid structure of commendable teachers leading the GED program at Bellevue College.
“Although I have always been a hard worker, I noticed that even with skills, you have to have a document. Without a degree, it is hard to be successful,” Garcia explained. “I was nervous to enroll back in school, but the teachers here are wonderful and encouraged me along the way.”
Too many students see going back to school as a barrier, Garcia added, and that the work is too difficult to take on.
“You just have to do it,” she said. “I am so glad I finally got the courage to complete the program.”
The GED courses offered at Bellevue College are designed to help improve student’s ability to comprehend and analyze information and to apply knowledge to a new situation. Classes are offered to review and prepare for the GED exam, a series of five tests covering the topics of writing, reading, social studies, science and mathematics.
Barbara Wright teaches several of the GED classes at Bellevue College and helped Garcia navigate her way to successfully pass all five GED exams.
“Many people think GED classes are an alternative to high school, but they actually started after WWII because young men went to fight and they had such horrific life experiences, when they came back, they couldn’t sit in a high school classroom,” Wright explained. “The government designed the GED for students who are too old to be in high school or those who wish to have a refresher before entering college courses.”
Students in the classes often come from a mix of backgrounds, experience and age groups, according to Wright.
Like Garcia, Iranian-born Azadeh Yazdani started taking classes at Bellevue College to improve her stature in this country. She began taking ESL classes in 2009 and will continue onto college courses with completion of the ESL program.
“My father taught me that education is really important as a person and in society. I believe that,” Yazdani said, who has been in the U.S. a little over a year. “When I left my country it was my goal to go to the United States and pursue a good education. I’m not going to lose my chance. I want to go to a university and get a degree in the medical field.”
Both Yazdani and Garcia were chosen by their instructors to represent their programs and speak at the annual GED and ESL graduation ceremony at the college.
“I’m excited about my speech at the graduation ceremony and to share about the advantages of the ESL classes,” Yazdani explained, with a vibrancy in her voice. “The classes are made up of students from all different cultures and languages. You learn a lot and make friends. The ESL classes are like a bridge to a better life; it’s a way to improve language skills and to go to college.”
The ESL classes offered at Bellevue College are funded by Federal funds and are funneled through the state of Washington under the umbrella of Adult Basic Education Classes. Because of this, the classes are offered for the cost of only $25 a quarter. The classes are held at various times during the week including some evening and weekend classes for students who work full time.
“It’s amazing that these students come to class to learn and improve themselves after 8 or 9 hours of work. It’s impressive,” said Marcela Pop, an ESL instructor at Bellevue College. “We want to help these students improve themselves, no matter what walk of life they come from. Education is key.”
Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425-453-4602.
