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The student news site of Pleasant Valley High School

Spartan Shield

The student news site of Pleasant Valley High School

Spartan Shield

Negative stigma around GED- Ariana

The+GED+of+Garrett+Fox%2C+who+dropped+out+of+high+school+at+the+end+of+his+junior+year.+He+got+his+GED+and+began+to+attend+welding+school.+Photo+credit+to%3A+Garrett+Fox
The GED of Garrett Fox, who dropped out of high school at the end of his junior year. He got his GED and began to attend welding school. Photo credit to: Garrett Fox

Many people consider finishing high school to be the start of adult life and the pathroad to a successful future, but that leads to a negative stigma around the people who don’t receive their diploma. 

There are many paths that people can take after high school, with the most popular being college, the military, or immediately joining the workforce.  Most of these options require you to have your high school diploma or your GED. 

Although a majority of people have heard of the GED, not many know the process to receiving it. The GED, or the Graduate Equivalency Degree, is a document stating that a person has completed all of the courses required to graduate. To receive your GED, you must take and pass a test over math, language arts, science, and social studies. After receiving aGED, people are able to apply for college and jobs that require the minimum of a high school diploma. 

“Classes in high school are directed to continuing school afterwards” said Garret Fox, who got his GED in July of 2023. “They pack more advanced things down your throat at ridiculous speeds and expect everyone to get it.” Many trade professions do not utilize what students learn in normal classes, so receiving a GED can allow you to begin learning your trade and start working sooner. 

Many people who get their GED end up working in a trade job, and many of them are successful. Depending on what trade you work in, the average pay being $62,488, and top earners making $93,165. This is enough money to comfortably live, yet the stigma around those who get their GED is that they are unsuccessful and unable to earn a sustainable income. 

There are many different paths that people can take in their lives, and it is unfair to judge those who take a less traditional path. Success can be judged in many different ways, and people who receive a GED can still reach a high level of success. 

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Ariana Assadi
Ariana Assadi, Design Editor
Ariana Assadi is a senior at Pleasant Valley High School. During her time at Pleasant Valley, Ariana has participated in many academic and extracurricular activities. Her numerous out-of-school activities include soccer and weightlifting, as well as taking part in the Pleasant Valley ambassador program for the past three years. Her favorite classes include Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, and Medical Terminology and Pharmacology. When she is not doing some sort of school activity, she can be found reading a book, binge watching Criminal Minds, or listening to Matt Maeson or Hozier. Ariana is a three year varsity athlete and plans on continuing to do soccer her senior year. Ariana is the design editor for the spartan shield.
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