Megan grew up in York and faced numerous challenges due to health issues that prompted her to leave high school at age 17. Megan’s journey to passing her High School Equivalency Exam at age 25 is a powerful testament to resilience, timing, and the importance of support.

In 2017, she enrolled at York Literacy Institute (YLI) and began attending classes to prepare for the High School Equivalency exams. Megan passed two of the five required tests but stopped attending because of a lack of reliable transportation, motivation, and eventually, the outbreak of the COVID pandemic. She said she put her education on the back burner because she had so much going on in her life.  

After bouncing between jobs for years, she finally found stability in her current full-time position. Megan says that her dad has always provided encouragement to get a high school degree. She says, “He kept telling me, you just need to go get that because it will help you in the future. But it was just something I wasn’t making a priority.”  

In 2024, Megan turned 25; she describes it as a year of growth for her: 

“I’m not the same person I was a year ago. I changed my entire perspective on life. I don’t even know how I did it. I woke up one day and said I want to be successful and keep going forward.”  

Realizing her potential and the value of education, Megan returned to YLI with a renewed focus. She says the consistent communication, encouragement, and flexibility of YLI staff helped her on her journey to reach her goal. She described the staff as “so uplifting to the people walking through the door no matter what they are going through- they’re here to support them. I think that is really awesome because some people don’t have that outside of a setting like YLI.” 

In December 2024, Megan passed her final test and received her High School Equivalency Certificate! This achievement has not only validated her intellect but also transformed her perspective on opportunities within her career. Megan acknowledges that she passed up a lot of opportunities in her life because she didn’t graduate from high school. She shares that sometimes, “I was just thinking in the back of my mind: I’m a high school dropout – I never completed that, so maybe I’m not even smart enough to do this.”  She says that having met this goal has boosted her confidence.  

Megan is dedicated to pushing forward in life and is excited about this new chapter. She offers this advice to anyone on a similar path:  

“Don’t let anything hold you back. Never think that just because you didn’t do something in the same timeframe as others, you can’t still achieve it. You can always go back. I’m 25, and I just did it—I got my High School Equivalency Certificate. There are places like the York Literacy Institute that can help you get to where you want to be.” 

Megan’s journey to completing her high school education is a reminder that there is no single timetable for success. Dropping out at 17 did not define her potential; instead, it became part of her unique story. Now, she stands on the brink of a new beginning, embracing the opportunities that come with her achievement. Megan’s experience highlights that the right moment often unfolds differently for each individual.What matters most is the determination to move forward, no matter what obstacles are faced along the way.