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Hey you came to the right place :)
It's totally normal to get down on yourself once in awhile...almost all of us have been there for one reason or another.
It sounds like you already know that you've done a lot for yourself. A GED is quite an accomplishment, especially since you seem to have overcome a lot of difficult circumstances. You should be proud, not ashamed. And don't hang around anyone who makes you feel that way.
I'm not sure why it should come up often, especially if you're going to be starting college. I definitely don't think you're missing out on anything, though. I don't know how old you are now, but I can promise that within a couple of years no one is going to give a crap if you didn't take the traditional route through high school. ;)
I don't think you're missing out on anything. I don't really get how it ever comes up ... I guess because I graduated 12+ years ago, but honestly, no one cares what high school you went to, especially after you go to college. And if people ask "what high school did you go to?" you don't need to say "I got a GED." They're asking you what high school did you go to not because they want to know about a degree, but because they want to know whether they know someone in common with you or are just making small talk. Just say the name of the high school you actually went to.
Don't worry about it! As soon as you get into college and start working on your degree, I don't think that it will even come up. I think you should be proud of yourself for getting your GED and taking care of yourself and your health first! Who cares what people think just because you couldn't get your degree at school.
I think you should feel proud that you got the GED. It shows that you cared enough to get it and know that it is equal to a HS diploma as far as that goes! You can advance your life and enter into college with it, so why feel bad about it? So what if past circumstances kept you from graduating at that point in time? Anyone that has a problem about it is being self-righteous and hypocritical.
BTW, no matter what we've accomplished or how far we've come, it is always WAY too easy to beat ourselves up. I know I deal with things on a daily basis, and I'm sure I'm not the only bee on here who does!
Ditto all of what Spaniel said. It's great that you're going to start college. Are you working now? What do you want to do? Let me just tell you, it is TOTALLY normal to feel down on yourself. I have a college education and have been mostly unemployed ever since I graduated a year ago. I had a crappy temp job for 5 months, but my pride definitely took a hit. There were many days/nights when I would just feel so sorry for myself. But you know what, you can't dwell on it. Because if you dwell on it, you're going to get to a dark place, and it's going to suck even more. So chin up, girlfriend! Sign up for college and start your future!
@EAQ216-I'm trying to get a job now that my medication is sorted out and plan to start college next fall. I want to get into real estate, even though that doesnt require a degree I still want to go to college.
Your post had me convinced that a GED was a good decision for you. You seem comfortable and happy with it and it's not dampening your career. I don't think many people will snub their nose at it (or even if it will come up much after a few years out). But there are people who will snub there nose at everything, so I donno, as long as you know you're doing good for yourself then try not to worry too much about it. It sounds like you've got a good plan for the future and that's really what high school is for.
I like bluebook's post. (OT @bluebook... is that about those blue book exam books? LOL I HATE THOSE THINGS bad memories)
You shouldn't feel down on yourself! Plenty of people finish high school and don't go to college. You're GOING TO COLLEGE. You'll be ahead of them and you should be proud that you can take the initiative.
I know someone who just wasn't happy in high school. He was incredibly smart and talented, but didn't do well in high school. He got his GED, went to college and got an internship that he ended up dropping out of college for, because it was his dream job. He loves it and hasn't looked back.
Good luck. I think you'll be just fine!
My cousin dropped out of high school and got his GED. People insisted that he would never become anything because he was a "loser" etc.
Well, now he has two degrees and he recently finished law school (top of his class!) and was recently accepted to work for an extremely prestigious law firm. Beyond that he's a wonderful human being and though he could have told all those people who called him a loser to stuff it, he just thanked them for inspiring him :)
Anyway, I wouldn't worry about it. When people apply for jobs at my office I don't think less of them because they have a GED in fact, half the time I don't even notice justlike bluebook said.
ONce you get into college, that question never comes up again, unless its "what high school did you go to?" to which you will reply which one you went to. Once your in college, everyone knows you have to have either a diploma or GED. IF it ever comes up, just say due to medical reasons you had to drop out but got your GED. There's always been a stigma with the GED, but hey you went back and did it, and that's what really counts
In times like these, I turn to Mrs. Eleanor:
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent"
cinemaparadiso - that's really funny about the blue books. My username's actually after another blue book of horror though, the Blue Book System of Legal Citation (I just finished law school last summer).
If anything you should be respected more for everything you've gone though. The easy route would probably have been to just drop out, but instead you got your GED. And like others have said, it doesn't even matter after you go to college - no one ever asks where you went to high school.
You already know the answer to your question. You've done the best you could to get your degree. Not that it's anyone's business, but I'd probably get snappy with the judgers and tell them that I had medical issues that made me miss too many school days. That might teach them a lesson in misjudging people. Also, maybe are you perceiving that people are looking down on you at times, when they really aren't? I think once you start attending college, your inferior feelings will disappear.
Try to think how inspirational your story will be to your children and those around you one day.
It would have been foolish of you to try to finish high school as sick as you were! Seriously, if you missed that much, you may not have made it!
And why is this even coming up?! It's the last thing in the world I'd ask someone. I don't even ask where people went to high school!
But kudos for going to college. As much as it pains me to say it (coming from a family of very uneducated people, so don't take this wrongly), going to college does gain you some sort of respect. Maybe it's because it's more commonplace now, who knows. When I was waiting tables, it just seemed like customers respected me more when I told them I was in college and waiting tables, versus, well, doing nothing and waiting tables. I made more money than anybody in that joint, and in general, people just seemed pleased that I was being ambitious with my life, wanting to do something to better ME, myself, not for anyone else.
Even if you want to go for real estate, skills you learn in english classes, communications classes, and maybe even architecture would allow you to communicate and work with clients better! I've had some real estate agents that were just hard for me to relate with and I've had some who are very articulate and intelligent and come across better. They can tell me things about the houses and everything. So don't think that just b/c you're not necessarily going for a degree that some further education isn't going to be good for you! Plus, it's all about the experience and what you learn...who knows, you may even find something you like better than being a real estate agent. I know some people with communications degrees and they make like 55K a year!
First I am really glad to hear you're healthier. Second don't ever let anybody let you feel like less of a person because of their own insecurities. My brother is a high school dropout and is making twice as much money a year as I am and I'm graduating from college in 5 months. I'm sure you're a smart girl and I wish you lots of success in college next year.
i'm proud of you for pursuing a college degree! why people care about a GED vs. an actual high school diploma these days really boggles my mind! sometimes you have to do things differently than everyone because life throws you curveballs. but i don't think that you are any less intelligent, ambitious or well-adjusted than anyone who did go to and finish high school. college will be a new, chanllenging and (hopefully) fulfilling experience for you, so try to think about the future and not let people who are stuck on your past get to you!
One of my close friends got her GED 10 years ago, and is currently getting her Masters Degree. It's not where you have been, it's where you are going!
well college admissions people like to see certain high school classes taken and of course at certain schools they would like to see a high school diploma...but honestly that's about it. AND you have a good reason (that can be validated) and you're pursuing college! good job! sometimes people just fail to see the bigger picture! there are different ways to get where you're going... i hope you don't have any more health problems in the future!!
@ejs4y8: so funny you should say that! my mom has a BA in Communications and just finished a real estate class..she's getting certified! .... and she makes around 60k/year! lol! but anyway, i TOTALLY agree with all of your advice about how the classes can better you. just going through the process can make you better at time management and just critical thinking. it's not NECESSARY (some people are really creative and able to make themselves, for example, my dad doesnt hold a college degree yet still has his own business in property management and he also has his own youth athletics club!) but if you get the chance it definitely can't hurt, even if you don't use your degree!
One of the people I graduate with at a top 40 law school had a GED. It is one of those things that doesn't matter as soon as you have something else going for you.
When you are young and have little work experience and no other official qualifications, it probably is looked down upon by some people. That is just a fact. However, that will last only as long as you let it, and it doesn't sound like you will very long. Once you have experience and a couple of college courses under your belt, it will rarely come up.
And ten years from now when you are hob-nobbing at cocktail parties and it comes up, just mention that medical issues forced you to pursue a GED instead of the traditional approach. Only an A$$ would bat an eye at that from someone who has their act together.
I am in the exact situation, except I dropped out my senior year because when my parents moved - NONE of my credits transferred and I was demoted to freshman. I had to start working immediately afterwards because my parents didn't believe in college.
I am actually starting my AS next fall and have pretty much gotten over the lack of education. It took me a long time, and it was especially hard while I was dating because I would end up going out with business owners, traders, doctors, etc. And you know what? None of them cared.
I'm eventually gearing up for pharmacy school - which my BF completely supports and has graciously agreed to help me with. My family did not support my decision because of the amount of debt I would take on. But to have that one support (and my friends), that was enough. In the end, the vast majority of educated people don't care about your accreditation. Even when looking for a relationship - which was startling to me.
Hope this helps. I had my own demons to overcome with this, especially marrying into a family of professors, doctors, and attorneys.
Thanks for the support! what brought me down that one night was my own brother was saying how ive missed out on so much like a graduation and a senior prom. in general peolpe kind of look at me funny when i say ive gotten a GED, maybe it's just the area im in though. I'm very pleased to have support form you bees though!
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I'm sitting here crying tonight feeling bad about myself.
Back when I was in highscool I was never good at school and had a lot of medical problems. It was suggested for me to drop out and persue a GED. I was happy with that decision being that I was ill and missed a lot of school because of it. It's been quite awhile since then and I've gotten well and have done good things for myself. My SO has been supportive through it all but when I tell other people I took the GED route they look down on me and I feel ashamed. I know I wouldn't have been able to finish high school if I stayed and I've even decided to start college soon. I know it was good that I at least got my GED instead of not getting anything but should I feel ashamed of it? I figure you ladies are supportive enough to maybe just make me feel better about my decision. Really though, am I missing out a lot? Will I ever be respected with a GED?