Pima Community College

Sam earned his High School Equivalency Diploma through the Pima Community College - Adult Basic Education for College & Career Program, proving that it's never too late to pursue education! Read Sam's story in his own words below. Thank you to everyone who joined our HSE Graduation Celebration yesterday to celebrate Sam and others like him on their accomplishments and persistence in pursuing their education!

"My name is Sam Griswold, and I was born in San Pedro, California. Because my father was in the military, I moved around quite a bit growing up and experienced life in many different places. When I was 18 years old, I had just entered the eleventh grade. At the time, I felt discouraged because I did not want to be a 20-year-old high school graduate. Instead of finishing school, I chose to leave and focus on finding a job. Over the years, I faced many challenges, including losing my vision and dealing with ongoing health issues, which made returning to school seem even more difficult.

The biggest reason I decided to return to school was my family, my wife, children and grandchildren. I wanted to show them that no matter what obstacles you face in life, it is never too late to achieve your goals. Despite losing my vision and experiencing many health challenges, I wanted to prove that perseverance and determination can help you overcome adversity. I also knew that earning my High School Equivalency diploma would open new opportunities for my future. My goal is to attend massage therapy school and become a massage therapist. Completing my HSE was an important step toward making that dream a reality.

Returning to school was both exciting and intimidating. At first, I was nervous and unsure of myself. I wondered if I would be able to keep up and succeed after being away from school for so many years. As a blind student, I sometimes found myself comparing my abilities to those of my sighted classmates, and that made me doubt myself. However, as time went on, I gained confidence and realized that I was capable of achieving my goals. Because of my blindness, finding employment can be challenging, which made completing my education even more important.

My wife and children have been my greatest inspiration throughout this journey. My family celebrated every success with me, no matter how big or small. One of the biggest challenges for me was math, but my daughter was always there to help me work through it. Knowing that my wife, children, and grandchildren were proud of me gave me the strength to keep going and ultimately achieve my goal of earning my HSE diploma. Now that I have earned my HSE diploma, I am excited to continue my education. My next goal is to attend massage therapy school, which I plan to start in October.

If you are thinking about pursuing your diploma, my advice is simple: go for it. No matter how old or young you are, education is something that can benefit you throughout your life. As someone who is blind and has faced many challenges, I want both sighted and non-sighted individuals to know that success is possible. Never give up on yourself, keep striving to be your best, and remember that it is never too late to accomplish something meaningful."

Thank you Sam for sharing your story with us!

Hey Tucson! Did you earn your HSE/GED this year? Want to celebrate? Join Pima's HSE Graduation on Thursday! Details in comments :)