For years, Jennifer Joyner built a solid life and career without a GED, but the absence of it quietly weighed on her. No matter how much she accomplished, not having completed her education remained a personal goal of hers. Earning her GED became less about checking a box and more about proving to herself that she could face the one challenge that had always intimidated her.   

Over time, she began to feel stuck in the same line of work, held back by a belief that she wouldn’t be able to pass the GED or continue her education afterward. That self-doubt grew, carrying into other areas of her life and convincing her that if she couldn’t do this, maybe she couldn’t achieve other goals either. “I was afraid that if I failed even once, I wouldn’t give myself the chance to try again and that I would hold myself back from reaching my goals all over again,” Jennifer said.  

With the help of her daughter’s encouragement, she proved that she was capable of anything she set her mind to. At six years old, her daughter became her biggest cheerleader, leaving handwritten notes on her computer that read, “I believe in you.” Those words became a source of strength and motivation whenever she found herself in doubt. “I wanted to prove to myself that I can do anything I put my mind to, and I wanted to show her that too.”  

Her path to the GED was shaped by an unconventional life story. As a child, she struggled with ADD and anxiety. Her mother pulled her out of traditional school to homeschool her, but due to personal challenges, her education eventually came to a halt altogether. Although earning a GED was always part of the plan, she entered the workforce at 17 where she worked at Aeropostale and eventually worked her way into management. As the years passed, it became clear how much not having her GED had limited her growth. With the support of her husband, she made a bold decision; she quit her job and committed fully to studying for her credential.  

Balancing school with family life requires discipline and support. She treated studying like a full-time job, dedicating her hours to learning while her daughter was in school. Her husband played an important role throughout the process, helping to manage responsibilities and helping prepare her by studying with her. That support made it possible for her to stay committed and focused.  

Earning her GED credential boosted her confidence in ways she hadn’t expected and lifted the weight she had carried for years. It reinforced the idea that even when life doesn’t follow the original plan, it’s never too late to accomplish your goals.  

For others considering the GED but feeling unsure, her advice is simple: start with a practice test. Many people are closer to passing than they realize. She credits the GED+ program—especially math—for providing a tailored study plan and access to an advisor who kept her accountable and focused.   

Looking ahead, she’s excited about the future. With her GED complete, she’s stepping into a new role as a patient care coordinator in healthcare. For the first time, she has the steady 8–5 job she always wanted, and a renewed sense of confidence as she continues to grow and see where the future leads. “It’s shown me that even when life doesn’t go as planned, it’s never too late to reach your goals and make changes that can truly change your life.” 

 

 

Roger Paramo is a GED graduate who earned his credential and went on to build a career at GED Testing Service. For Roger, the GED represented more than an academic milestone—it was proof that he could succeed within the U.S. education system. That validation gave him the confidence to pursue technical certifications and ultimately apply for technology-related roles.

“Knowing I had earned the GED gave me the assurance to walk into interviews and say, ‘I can learn what you need me to learn, and I can deliver results,’” Roger said. That confidence, backed by a nationally recognized credential, became a turning point in launching his tech career.

In his role at GED Testing Service, Roger has had the opportunity to work on innovative projects that connect data, technology, and learner outcomes. One of those experiences included supporting the development of an AI-powered feedback agent within the GED&Me app. For Roger, the most important part of building any solution is first understanding the problem and defining the outcomes learners and educators need.

“Seeing it in production and helping the team make better decisions made it all worth it,” he said.

Through his work, Roger has seen firsthand how AI can identify patterns in student learning and turn them into actionable insights. By analyzing data within the GED&Me app, he helps pinpoint where learners are struggling and shares those findings with GED development and education teams. Those insights inform product improvements and strengthen the support available to students.

Roger knows firsthand what GED learners need—and that perspective shows in his work. As part of the GED team, he helped improve the GED&Me app in ways that matter most to learners, contributing to a 22% increase in average session length and a 97% increase in sessions where learners get their questions answered.

As AI capabilities continue to grow, Roger sees even greater potential to understand the learner journey, identify barriers earlier, and help teams design more effective resources that meet students’ needs.

Roger is especially proud of experiencing the full data analytics lifecycle in work that directly impacts students. His primary responsibility is to support state education authorities as they seek to better understand their GED student populations and identify opportunities to improve outcomes.

From asking the right questions and preparing data to analyzing patterns, sharing insights, and seeing those insights put into action, Roger is involved in every step of the process. “Seeing how data translates into better access to education and improved student outcomes makes every analysis meaningful,” he said. “Knowing that my work contributes to someone else’s opportunity to earn their GED, just like I did, drives everything I do.”

Beyond his role, Roger is a strong advocate for GED graduates who want to pursue careers in AI and technology. He encourages learners to recognize the grit it took to earn their GED because that same perseverance is highly valued by tech employers. He also recommends building stackable credentials through free or low-cost resources such as Harvard’s CS50, Google’s Data Analytics Certificate, Coursera, and freeCodeCamp.

“You’ve already shown you’re proactive, autonomous in learning, and determined to push forward,” Roger said. “Those are the traits that make someone valuable in a fast-changing field like technology.”

After immigrating to the U.S. with his daughter, Douglas earned his GED in April 2025 and is now pursuing a nursing degree. His journey is a powerful testament to perseverance, gratitude, and the life-changing impact of educators.

Don’t let fear steer you away from your dreams. You’re never too old, and it’s never too late. Even if you don’t have support, keep going. Once you get there, you’ll see how bright the other side is.

At age 39, Jennifer from Florida accomplished something she once thought was out of reach—earning her GED diploma. Just six months later, her son graduated from high school. Now, Jennifer is preparing to enroll in a nursing course at her local vocational training center. Even more inspiring, thanks to her progress, she is no longer on Medicaid.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always been passionate about technology and helping people. By choosing the Service Delivery Training pathway through the GED Tech Apprenticeship™ program, I could do both.

When things are hard, whether it’s money or family or work, just focus and keep going. It’ll work out, you’ll find a way. Since I immigrated to the US, I felt like doors were shutting in my face, that my dreams would never happen. It made me sad. But I kept studying, improving myself, and networking. I’m glad I didn’t give up because [with the GED] I found a window of opportunity and my career [in tech] is on track now.

I went to take the test feeling confident about my study plan that GED+ provided. That day, I scored higher than all my previous attempts – I finally passed the GED!

Math was the one thing holding me back from getting my GED and lead to the job I wanted. With GED+ I finally got the help I needed to pass.

I wanted to get my GED to advance at work. Granny kept telling me I could do it. My husband, kids and family encouraged me. In the end, my mother and grandmother got their GED as well. All three generations graduated at the same time!

I felt like I’d never get math, but my GED+ Advisor showed me the best tools to use and how much to study so I could understand it. It worked! I finally passed all four subjects of the GED.

With GED+, everything was clear. I could decide my own schedule and feel confident for the test. It’s even available in Spanish, like the GED test, which made my whole GED journey go smoothly.