While attempting to pursue a career in nursing, Shaketta Baker learned that her high school diploma certificate was fraudulent.
“In 2007, I paid money to a business to take a test to receive my diploma, so all this time I thought it was legitimate,” said Baker, 35, who lives in Merrillville.
She was born and raised in Chicago, attended Dunbar Vocational High School but didn’t graduate with her class. Life got in the way. The setback, however, didn’t stop her from finding employment as a retail store manager to make a good living for her family.
Still, her childhood dream of becoming a nurse kept tapping her on the shoulder. In 2008, she followed her heart and registered for classes at South Suburban College.
“Then life got in the way again and I became focused on working to provide for my children,” the Merrillville woman recalled.
More Top Picks Best Galaxy Projectors For Kids Rooms
Her dream was deferred for a decade, until earlier this year when she decided to finally pursue her elusive nursing career. That’s when she found out the online program used to obtain her high school certificate was a scam.
“I was told by South Suburban College that the company was under investigation,” Baker said. “I was devastated. I wanted to give up pursuing my career in nursing.”
Instead, she searched online for adult education programs in our region and discovered the Merrillville Adult Education program. She called and left a voice mail. That same day, she heard back from Sherri Green, the program’s supervisor.
“We hate to turn anyone away,” Green told me. “My teachers have the job of making sure the adult students feel confident in their ability. Sometimes we see that ability before the students do, so we work on the confidence part.”
Baker initially planned on only taking the test she needed – the Test Assessing Secondary Completion, formerly the GED preparation and GED test. Then she realized she hadn’t been in a school setting for more than 10 years.
Green suggested that Baker should first take a pre-test to assess her overall educational skills. Baker scored fine on reading and English, but not on math and science. She knew she needed to enroll in the program.
Baker attended classes twice a week, three hours a day.
“The teacher helped me focus on my weakness in math,” Baker said.
She took the test as early as possible, acing the math portion but failing the science portion. She waited to retake the test, only to again fail the science portion.
“The staff made sure I didn’t give up,” Baker recalled.
Her teachers suggested she study online about the life sciences, her biggest weakness.
“You got this,” Green told her.
Baker was all nerves waiting for her test result, even calling Green when the online portal website was temporarily down.
“You passed!” Green told her.
“I can’t believe it,” Baker replied.
She had nothing but praise for all the program’s teachers, including Sharyl Harper, Jacqueline Lewis, Jeanne Unterfranz, and Jennifer Wittrup.
“They deserve an award of excellence,” Baker said. “It was really a great experience.”
On Thursday night, she joined 17 other graduates of the adult education program. At Merrillville High School, they received their TASC diploma as orchestra members played the iconic “Pomp and Circumstance.”
“I am more than excited to be honored at this ceremony,” Baker told me before the event.
Green’s staff is honest with students when they first enter the no-nonsense program.
“We talk to them about where they are, how long it will take them, and what it takes from both sides to get this done,” she said.
Due to changes in requirements for adult education programs, her program works very closely with the local WorkOne offices, and it also offers its own Integrated Education and Training classes. Or her program pays for its students to take those classes to earn certification for their chosen career.
“We really do care about all the students here,” Green said.
She invited me to again speak to the new grads, knowing that I also once earned a GED diploma to jump-start my journalism career. Like them, I also took a non-traditional journey on my educational path to a career.
“I know how many of you feel,” I told the adult grads, some who are parents, like Baker.“I also was a young father with two kids when I got my GED in 1990.”
More Top Picks Best Rabbit Hutches
I told the grads if they have a chip on their shoulder, as I did, from earning a TASC certificate instead of a high school diploma, use it as a motivator to overcome upcoming challenges. Any anger, frustration or disappointment should be channeled into resolve, commitment and determination, I told them.
As Green called out each grad’s name to walk across the stage, their families and supporters erupted into applause. My favorite cheer came from a young girl in the audience who proudly yelled, “Mommy!”
After the ceremony, a man in his late 50s thanked me for sharing my backstory.
“I just started this adult ed program last month,” he told me. “I want a career, not just a job.”
Baker feels the same way.
“I’m proud to say I am a graduate of the Merrillville Adult Education program,” she said, noting that her daughters helped her study for the tests.
This summer, she begins nursing classes at Ivy Tech Community College.
Her dream may have been deferred but it is not derailed.