Shawn Riddick
The first time Shawn Riddick took his GED test in 2009 he failed it by one point.
“I was so discouraged,” he said.
Riddick decided not to pursue his GED any further, focusing instead on his career in the maritime industry working on boats.
Sixteen years after failing his test and with two of his children approaching their senior year of high school, Riddick says it was time to give it another shot.
“Thinking about my kids and seeing them get older, I can’t be too hypocritical. I had to, no matter what, go back and get my GED,” he said.
Riddick found out about Richland One Adult Education by looking up GED programs online. Even before setting foot inside the building, he says the staff was more than welcome to help him.
“I called the school, and I felt like I just wanted to explain everything to them. They were like ‘Don’t worry. We got you. We’ll take care of you,’” said Riddick.
On Riddick’s first day of class, his advisor asked him if he wanted to take the WIN Work Ready test right away. While some of his classmates got discouraged about taking a test so soon, Riddick says he jumped at the opportunity and passed it.
He says the staff always believed in him and were willing to help him to get his GED quickly. A few days after starting classes, Riddick says he met a woman who said she was getting her GED for her grandchildren.
“That pushed me more to want to get it done. After all the discouragement I felt all these years, maybe this was the right place for me to be at the right time,” he said.
Thanks to the support from his classmates and the staff at Adult Education, Riddick was able to get his GED within about three weeks. He says the school celebrated his accomplishment.
“Everyone was cheering and clapping. You get to take a victory walk,” said Riddick.
He says he’s been to graduations for just about everyone in his family. On May 15, Riddick was the one walking across the stage. He was one of approximately 20 graduates participating in Adult Education’s graduation ceremony. Riddick says having his children at the ceremony will motivate them to graduate high school.
“If their dad can do it at 34 years old, they can continue high school and get it done, go to college, and be successful,” said Riddick.
Now that he has his GED, Riddick says he wants to go to college. He said his advisors have stayed in contact with him after passing the test to help him decide what’s next.
“It was based off my time being here (Adult Education) that going to college was strongly on my mind. A place like this is something people all over need,” he said.
Riddick’s advice to others his age or older who haven’t gotten their GED is that it’s never too late to get it.
“If you put your mind to it, nothing matters. You can go and do it,” he said. “I’m grateful to have been able to experience what I experienced here.”
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