“Strive for Success” Overview:
Strive for Success is a fast-track GED program for youth and young adults ages 16-25. A partnership between Academy of Hope and Strive DC, Strive for Success serves students from across District of Columbia. Students register to attend 7-week sessions and must commit to attending 30 instructional hours per week. The customized curriculum includes GED subjects presented in thematic units, incorporating reading, social studies, science, and writing under a relevant theme. Additional program components include: individualized and group math instruction, a careers class, a technology class, online learning using Plato software, and individual case management.
Program Highlights:
The most unique thing about Strive for Success is the use of the curriculum of “Thematic Units” which incorporate reading, writing, science and social studies around a specific theme that changes each term. The students are able to integrate the different GED topics to their own experience. The thematic unit is paired with field trips which explore what they are learning in class or help them prepare for future employment. Some of the places our students have explored include: the Natural History museum, a pre-screening of the move “Precious,” the American Indian Museum, the Martin Luther King Library, the National Building Museum, the DC crime lab, a play at Atlas Theater, and several local businesses started and run by African Americans. Additionally, the students have had expert speakers on various themes such as: domestic violence, HIV prevention, financial literacy, career exploration, fatherhood/motherhood instruction, banking, and play-workshops.
The support for our students comes largely through our volunteers and staff members. Strive for Success has been fortunate to have 9 volunteers in math and essay writing. Our students are able to get more one-on-one attention from the individual tutors than they do in the classroom setting. We currently have 2 full-time staff members and 3 contracted instructors to work with the students to meet their goals.
One thing that is harder to quantify but important, students have found their “place” at Strive for Success. Recent high school drop-outs are coming to school by choice and forming bonds with others who have come from similar situations. They come back after their term is over, they stay in contact with each other, and they are part of the Strive for Success family. As a recent graduate said, “Strive for Success believed in me when no one else did.”
Program Success
As of November 30, 2010, 20 of our students earned their GED. Since Strive for Success is a completely new program, we don’t have previous years to measure this number against. While we didn’t quite meet our goal of 25 GEDs, we are incredibly pleased with 20 GEDs. Additionally we are still waiting on the scores of 12 students who took the GED in September and October. By the time all the scores are in, we should have met our goal of 25 for the grant year.
Student Success Story
Khaleelah Bynum was disappointed when she finished her first term of GED classes at Strive for Success. She had taken the Practice GED, but her math and writing scores were too low to be to pass the Official GED. In December she re-interviewed for a spot in the January term. During her interview we told her that she would need to be much more focused the second time around to make sure she passed the test. She promised she would try her hardest to improve her scores and take the class seriously. In her second term, Khaleelah began to mature; she was not longer a follower but a leader, she had a better attitude and worked extremely hard especially in math. At the end of the term celebration, we were happy to announce Khaleelah had passed both the writing and math sections of the Practice GED. But the real challenge came several weeks later when she took the Official GED. She knew if she was going to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse, she would need to pass the GED. The good news came in April that Khaleelah was our 6th GED graduate. She has begun applying to nursing programs and will one day be a great addition to the medical field. She plans to attend UDC.
Lloyd came in to the Strive for Success with a smirk on his face. He has always has a little mischievous look like he is up to something. But you couldn’t ask for a more sincere or friendly student. In class, Lloyd made friends easily and caught on to material quickly. He was diligent with his homework which, as one of his instructors, I loved. He studied hard and passed the GED on the first try. Since he is so laid back and capable to do so much, now that he has the tough task of deciding what he wants to do and pursue it. He is currently deciding which career path to follow and beginning to look for jobs.
Andrew North started with Strive for Success’s first class in October 2009. A diligent student who rarely missed class and turned in his homework assignments, Andrew worked hard and passed the practice GED after just 8 weeks of instruction. We believe one of the reasons for Andrew’s success is that he had a set goal since he started this program: to become a nurse. Once he passed the practice GED, he began at Academy of Hope’s Pathways to College program. There he has started looking into nursing programs and has already completed his FAFSA to help secure financial aid for school. He is also continuing to study reading, writing, and math to help him prepare for the GED and college. Since working in both Strive for Success and Pathways to College, Andrew’s Practice GED scores have increased 350 points and his math has increased 3 grade levels.
