“I had a mental health crisis that led me to realize I need to be the one to start my own life - not sit around waiting for it to start for me.” - Friday

Friday dropped out of high school twice. They faced real mental health challenges. And for a long time, they weren't sure what came next. But when they decided to earn their GED, everything shifted. That moment became the starting point for a new chapter they chose.

Today, Friday is working toward their associate degree—and continuing to build a future on their own terms.

Hear Friday tell her story in their own words.

Through obstacles and setbacks, Natasha never lost sight of her goal: to build a better future for their family.

Whether it was juggling work, being a single mom, or overcoming self-doubt, she found a way forward. Her determination is a reminder that education transforms lives. By choosing to keep going, she’s opened doors to new opportunities and inspired those around her. She is currently pursuing her CNA and will move on to pursue her RN.

Today, Natasha is proud that she showed her kids what overcoming adversity looks like and that they can accomplish whatever they put their mind to.

By CT Turner, President, GED Testing Service

In May 2025, I officially stepped into the role of President of GED Testing Service. While the title changed, the mission did not: to ensure education remains a powerful, accessible force for opportunity, especially for adults navigating complex, often unforgiving life circumstances.

This past year reinforced something I’ve believed for a long time: the GED is not just a credential. It’s a bridge to jobs, stability, confidence, and possibility.

Impact That Matters

In 2025, GED learners showed up for themselves in remarkable ways:

• More than 1 million subject tests were taken

• 154,839 individuals earned their GED® diplomas

• Learners outside the U.S. grew by 25% 

• 179,000 learners downloaded the GED & Me mobile app, turning their phones into tools for progress

Behind every one of these numbers is a person, often balancing work, family, financial stress, or recovery from trauma – who made the decision to keep going.

The GED program has now produced more than 21 million graduates worldwide, one of the largest alumni communities on the planet. As stewards of this program, we carry a responsibility not only to protect its credibility, but to ensure it evolves with the world learners are stepping into.

Understanding the Reality Adult Learners Face

Adult learners are not lacking motivation or ability. They are navigating realities many systems were never designed to accommodate.

• 30% of prospective learners delay or avoid testing due to fear of failure

• Nearly half report that mental health challenges have disrupted their learning

• Many experience anxiety, learning differences, or the lasting effects of trauma 

• Financial instability, caregiving responsibilities, and housing insecurity are common threads

These are not edge cases. They are the norm. And they demand that we lead with empathy, flexibility, and urgency.

The Power of One Educator

Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of meeting learners from nearly every state—and from around the world. From rural communities rebuilding after job loss, to urban neighborhoods shaped by violence and disruption. I’ve met learners who raised siblings after losing parents, and one young man from Myanmar who grew up in a refugee camp, fled extreme violence, earned his GED, and went on to university to pursue his dream of becoming a teacher.

Despite vastly different backgrounds, every story shared two things in common:

1. Education changed the trajectory of their life

1. One person made the difference

An educator. A mentor. Someone who believed when belief was scarce. 

Adult educators are often that person – the quiet force who turns self-doubt into momentum. The GED exists because of that commitment, and learners succeed because of it.

Looking Ahead to 2026: From Credentialed to Career-Ready

As we look to 2026, our focus is clear.

Equitable access to opportunity, particularly in fields like technology, healthcare, and green energy has never been more critical. GED learners deserve a fair shot at these careers. Our role is to ensure the credential doesn’t end at a credential, but extends into meaningful employment. In fact, I’ve never been more excited about the potential for GED grads to enter good-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree and have opportunities for further upskilling and job progression within those industries.

That’s why we are investing in:

• AI-powered tools to expand access, personalize learning, and reduce barriers

• Smarter support for learners managing anxiety, confidence gaps, and life disruptions

• GED to Careers, strengthening pathways from education to career training and employment 

• Workforce partnerships that align skills with real-time and future labor market demand

We are not building AI for the sake of innovation. We’re building it to transform learning and change lives. As the workforce evolves, our organization is committed to staying ahead, so learners are not just credentialed, but truly career ready.

Lighting the Way Forward

I often think of my grandfather, a GED graduate and lifelong educator. He once stood before a darkened room full of people and lit a single candle. That single candle lit another, and another, until the darkness disappeared.

That is the power of education – the power to light a path forward and dispel darkness. And that is the power each educator, employer, and partner holds. The GED team will continue to roll up our sleeves, build bridges, and light pathways for our learners in 2026.

A kind word. A second chance. A moment of belief.

In 2025, we saw what’s possible when opportunity meets perseverance. In 2026, our charge is to widen the path so more learners can cross the bridge to a future they deserve.