Pima Community College

Sam earned his High School Equivalency Diploma through the Pima Community College - Adult Basic Education for College & Career Program, proving that it's never too late to pursue education! Read Sam's story in his own words below. Thank you to everyone who joined our HSE Graduation Celebration yesterday to celebrate Sam and others like him on their accomplishments and persistence in pursuing their education!

"My name is Sam Griswold, and I was born in San Pedro, California. Because my father was in the military, I moved around quite a bit growing up and experienced life in many different places. When I was 18 years old, I had just entered the eleventh grade. At the time, I felt discouraged because I did not want to be a 20-year-old high school graduate. Instead of finishing school, I chose to leave and focus on finding a job. Over the years, I faced many challenges, including losing my vision and dealing with ongoing health issues, which made returning to school seem even more difficult.

The biggest reason I decided to return to school was my family, my wife, children and grandchildren. I wanted to show them that no matter what obstacles you face in life, it is never too late to achieve your goals. Despite losing my vision and experiencing many health challenges, I wanted to prove that perseverance and determination can help you overcome adversity. I also knew that earning my High School Equivalency diploma would open new opportunities for my future. My goal is to attend massage therapy school and become a massage therapist. Completing my HSE was an important step toward making that dream a reality.

Returning to school was both exciting and intimidating. At first, I was nervous and unsure of myself. I wondered if I would be able to keep up and succeed after being away from school for so many years. As a blind student, I sometimes found myself comparing my abilities to those of my sighted classmates, and that made me doubt myself. However, as time went on, I gained confidence and realized that I was capable of achieving my goals. Because of my blindness, finding employment can be challenging, which made completing my education even more important.

My wife and children have been my greatest inspiration throughout this journey. My family celebrated every success with me, no matter how big or small. One of the biggest challenges for me was math, but my daughter was always there to help me work through it. Knowing that my wife, children, and grandchildren were proud of me gave me the strength to keep going and ultimately achieve my goal of earning my HSE diploma. Now that I have earned my HSE diploma, I am excited to continue my education. My next goal is to attend massage therapy school, which I plan to start in October.

If you are thinking about pursuing your diploma, my advice is simple: go for it. No matter how old or young you are, education is something that can benefit you throughout your life. As someone who is blind and has faced many challenges, I want both sighted and non-sighted individuals to know that success is possible. Never give up on yourself, keep striving to be your best, and remember that it is never too late to accomplish something meaningful."

Thank you Sam for sharing your story with us!

Alyssa earned her High School Equivalency Diploma through the Pima Community College - Adult Basic Education for College & Career Program, overcoming many challenges to build a better future for herself by pursuing education. Read Alyssa's story in her own words below! We invite our community to celebrate Alyssa and ALL of our HSE grads tonight (Thursday, June 4) at our HSE Graduation Ceremony, at 6:30 p.m. at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall in Downtown Tucson.

"My name is Alyssa and I am a 29-year-old Mexican-American woman who was born and raised in Arizona. Throughout my life, I have faced many challenges and hardships that could have easily defeated me. However, I have overcome these obstacles and emerged stronger. These experiences have shaped me into a hard-working, determined, and resilient person who never gives up.

When I was a teenager, I faced several significant hardships that disrupted my education and led me down an unhealthy path. These events impacted my stability, motivation, mental health, and overall life direction. Overcoming those challenges taught me resilience and deepened my appreciation for education and personal growth.

My desire to build a better future for myself motivated me to continue my education for a long time. However, I procrastinated getting my High School Equivalency Diploma because I thought it would take years. Initially, it felt overwhelming and impossible to accomplish. But once I discovered the career path I wanted to pursue, I realized that obtaining my High School Equivalency Diploma was the first step toward achieving that goal.

Returning to school as an adult initially felt daunting and almost insurmountable. I was juggling work, home responsibilities, and daily life pressures that many younger students haven’t yet faced. This necessitated learning to manage my time effectively and maintain discipline. While it was challenging at times, it turned out to be far more rewarding and manageable than I had anticipated.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have an exceptional support system that not only motivated me to achieve my goals but also helped me excel throughout the entire process. This support system comprises my family, my boyfriend, my friends, my teacher Robin, and my tutor Denise. Their unwavering encouragement, patience, and belief in me kept me motivated even during challenging times.

My plan going forward is to pursue law school and become an attorney, enabling me to assist others while drawing inspiration from my own experiences to achieve success.

I passionately believe that anyone can achieve their goals if they are determined to keep trying, even after setbacks and failures. Everyone’s journey is unique, and it’s crucial not to compare yourself to others. Comparison can hinder your progress and diminish your confidence. Regardless of the time it takes, every step forward is significant. No matter your age, past experiences, or obstacles you’ve faced, you always possess the power to rebuild your future. Take things one step at a time, refuse to give up, and you can accomplish far more than you ever imagined."

Thank you for sharing your story with us, Alyssa!

HSE/GED grads of Pima County! We are super proud of you and want to celebrate you and your accomplishment. Pima's Adult Basic Education for College & Career Program is hosting the annual HSE Graduation Ceremony this Thursday, June 4th, 6:30 p.m. at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall in Downtown Tucson, 260 S Church Ave.

Everyone in Pima County who graduated with their AZ High School Equivalency diploma is welcome and invited to attend - EVEN if you did not test through PCC! Please help us spread the word.

This year, three HSE graduates will share how returning to education changed their lives. Each story reflects resilience, growth and a renewed sense of purpose.

Crucial federal and state funding for Adult Ed programs are currently threatened and incredibly vulnerable. Showing up for our graduates is more critical than ever! Please help us champion PCC’s number-one legislative priority of protecting this funding and stand strong with our Adult Ed community.

RSVP at the link in our bio/stories!

The one-hour ceremony will be live-streamed via the PCCTV STREAM on YouTube for family, friends, fellow students, and community members to watch live if they are unable to attend.

Hey Tucson! Did you earn your HSE/GED this year? Want to celebrate? Join Pima's HSE Graduation on Thursday! Details in comments :)

Pima for Youth offers engaging summer sessions for teens 13-17, starting June 1. Register now to learn exciting skills!