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Some students are afraid to succeed. To stick out above the crowd. Doing more than others do. Don't dream or try, even succeed! To do so makes a mockery of what others fail to even attempt. It's like there is a badge of honor for failing one self. Even if you could pass, stay here with your friends by quitting even intentionally failing. No one expects you to pass and move on. Everyone knows you here and you don't have to act like you know things.

It is easier to quit by failing. You can blame it on the GED test! Everyone knows that test is not fair. The teacher had it in for you. She thought you had time to do the stupid homework. Let someone else make it. You're doing fine.

The fact that you are getting a GED say something was wrong. Given a choice between a GED or a high school diploma. You chose a GED! There are criteria for a GED. One, not having a high school diploma or not wanting one. So are you doomed for the rest of your life because you have a GED? Nope, because jobs, colleges are available for you if you can do what is required. An associates, bachelor's, master's or PHD degree may be yours.

This won't happen:

• Without some effort on your part.
• Without actually studying.
• Unless you actually take the risk of failure.
• Unless you take ownership of your future.

A tragic few have been beaten down by peers, society again and again. The recoil in fear from a hand of help like a whipped dog from an offer of food from a stranger. Both have been trained to expect pain or cruelty from life not good.

We all become comfortable with the environments in which we live. A new change to that environment meets with resistance and stiff resolve not to change. Change has not always been met with happiness or good. The Alaskan gold fields were hard enough in the summer. Let alone, the arctic winter when non-native prospectors died from being ill prepared.

Students like most people tend to keep what they have and have no desire to risk any of what they have. They are not going to take a chance on losing. An open hand is similar to an open mind. They can receive or grasp objects but a closed hand can't grab anything or receive anything. Contrary to human desire change will occur whether we want it or not.

The struggle to succeed for some students may be a little harder then first imagined. With some problems not normally expected in academia. Even so from the struggle come our GED graduates. Lessons were learned and skills developed.