Daniela Smith put SO MUCH EFFORT into getting her High School Equivalency diploma and says that having her HSE means the world to her. As you read her story, you will find that to be true. She expresses her gratitude for the people who encouraged her along the way. “I really needed it because people kept telling me I wasn’t going to amount to anything, and I wanted to show them that, yes, I will!”

I graduated from the Literacy Center in 2019 after working with Mrs. Stacy Waters and Mr. William Lismore. Then I went to WorkOne not realizing how hard getting my diploma was going to be. I met Marsha, who was to be my teacher. After passing the equivalent of 9th, 10th, and 11th grade smoothly at the Literacy Center, I was faced with a harder challenge in 12th that I was not prepared for.

When the challenge came in due time, I was eager to embrace the challenge. It was a preposterous endeavor, but not impossible! In 2019, I took my very first set of tests which happened to be five subjects within two days. I needed a 500 on the test to graduate, and I almost did it, but was 1-3 points away from passing. I was very distraught. When I went to Marsha’s classroom the next day, she and Sharleen gave me a lot of encouragement to not give up too soon. As I started to pass my subjects, I began to work harder and was encouraged greatly by the progress I was making!

After failing a few of the subjects so many times, I wanted to quit, but the two ladies were there to help me, and I gained strength to push forward until I graduated. I had lots of loving people, who in a kind but serious fashion told me to continue without stopping. I worked so hard that I went through all of Marsha’s books and worksheets in her classroom within a two-year span. That was exhausting, but exciting.

The time came when a big miracle was about to happen, but we didn’t know when. We just knew it was going to happen sooner rather than later since I was like a sponge that soaked up all the lessons in the classroom. I finally told Marsha that I was going to take one more test and be done with it. No matter how hard I worked at it, it just wasn’t going as fast as I wanted it to go, but on March 25, I took my very last test! I got a score of 508 out of 500! I was so shocked and delighted with myself. I couldn’t believe what I was told – that I finally graduated with my HSE! I thank the Lord everyday for the miracle. If I can do it, you can too. I would especially like to thank Stacy Waters, William Lismore, and Marsha Stowe for so much time, effort, dedication and teamwork in teaching me. Your students love you a lot!

         Love from Daniela Marie Smith

Daniela’s future is looking very bright; she would like to go to Ivy Tech and get her doctorate degree in English. Congratulations, Daniela!! We are VERY proud of you!