In 1964, at the age of sixteen, Sonny Alicie left high school, quit his job, and moved to Tazewell, Virginia to take care of his sick grandfather. Two years later, after his grandfather's death, Sonny wanted to join the Army and become a helicopter pilot; but he was told he needed his high school credential to qualify. Sonny studied for his GED on Saturdays while he worked as a crew chief for the Army during the week. At 18, after just 4 weeks of study, he earned his GED and then served in Vietnam for nineteen months. Today, Sonny is Captain and Director of Classification and Treatment Services at the Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center and has written four articles for his professional organization's magazine.
(Virginia GED Success Stories Calendar 2007-2008) 

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Melissa Timberlake was home schooled in high school and did not receive a traditional diploma. However, she earned her GED in 1994 and enrolled in community college. After transferring to Mary Washington College, she earned bachelor's degrees in both business and psychology in 1998. While pursuing a successful career in real estate, Melissa began taking flying lessons and realized this was the life she loved. Today, she flies passenger airplanes for US Airways Express. Melissa says, "If you don't try, you will never know what you can do. Getting my GED was that bridge to everything I wanted to do."
(Virginia GED Success Stories Calendar 2007-2008) 

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During his freshman year, Andre Bright was expelled from high school. Three years later, feeling unable to move forward in his life, he enrolled in an adult education program in Hopewell and received his GED in 2005. Now 20, he works with a cleaning contractor, is working towards his driver's license, and has plans to go to community college. He also volunteers his time as a GED tutor. Andre says, "I can't go back to high school, but I can inspire students and adults to move forward with their education.
(Virginia GED Success Stories Calendar 2007-2008) 




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