Considering all the time and effort it takes to get, is a GED worth it in the end? The answer is a resounding yes! You just need some tips on how to stay motivated to study. After you pass the four sections and walk away with a high school equivalency diploma, you’ll enjoy more professional opportunities and benefits. It’s never too late to start a successful next chapter in your life.
Why Is a GED Worth It?
Federal agencies, corporate management, universities, and colleges all accept a GED for their high school diploma education requirement. This is usually the minimum requirement for most jobs and for admission to higher education.
More Educational and Career Opportunities
With a GED, you can qualify for a higher-paying position or get into a college classroom since you’ve demonstrated the knowledge you need to compete with high school graduates. As a result, you’ll find more options for career and education advancement.
This is an excellent option for anyone who didn’t, or currently can’t, complete high school for any reason. Even with the busy schedule of work and family responsibilities, you can take advantage of flexible online or in-person GED programs that allow you to study and prepare at a pace that works best for you.
How to Motivate Yourself to Study
Check out the ways some recent graduates stayed motivated while studying for a GED.
Try these additional tips for motivation on this exciting new journey.
1. Determine Your Goals
What do you want in your life? Consider specific actions you want to take in the next six months, year, and five years. What are your educational, professional, and personal goals? Make these realistic and write them down. Seeing personal, academic, and professional goals in writing is often the first step toward obtaining them.
2. Prioritize These Goals
The busyness of everyday life can distract you from where you want to go. Make your goals a priority by knowing why they matter to you. Do you want to inspire your children? Be the first person in your family to graduate college?
Why you’re doing this is important, so make sure you remind yourself every day. Put up post-its around the house with the reasons written down. Or spend five minutes every morning in deep meditation about what you’re working toward and why. This will help renew your motivation to study, and you’ll be better able to resist distractions like television, emails, social media, or anything that doesn’t serve you in this journey.
3. Create a Quality Support System
Getting a GED is much easier if you surround yourself with positive people who can help. Tell your family and friends about your plan to study and take this important exam. They might be able to help with family or child care.
Talk to your employers. Some businesses provide financial support or incentives. There might even be promotions or raises in your future once you pass.
4. Start with Small Steps
Take big goals and break them into stages or small steps. Sometimes when goals seem overwhelming, it helps to think, “What should I do first? Then second? Then what’s my third step in this journey?” It makes the seemingly impossible more doable.
You might also consider writing to-do lists. Do something each day to get from Point A to Point B. This keeps you focused on the end goal. Then, recognize those achievements. You’re making progress!
5. Reward Yourself
Think of ways to treat yourself whenever you accomplish a significant step toward your goal. Maybe that means being rewarded with a special dessert or a well-deserved break. Throwing mini celebrations along the way is one motivation tip that helps you enjoy the entire process.
A Word from Recent Graduates
Some recent GED students and graduates shared what helped motivate them through their journey. Do any of their stories resonate with you?
“What inspired me the most to go back to school to get my GED would’ve been my husband and my kids. Without my husband pushing me, I probably wouldn’t have done it. I came from a family that had really hard times and poverty. No one in my family had graduated, and I wanted to be that first person, and I didn’t think I could do it given the circumstances and the life I had.” Brittni W.
“I got my GED in January of 2022 this year, and what inspired me to get my GED was my kids, my four kids. I wanted to better myself, as well as a parent.” Shanika S.
“What motivated me to obtain my GED was the inability to move ahead in the company where I worked for 12 years. I was always overlooked, no matter how hard I worked, and I realized it wasn’t the company but my education.” Michael D.
“My son motivated me to get my GED because I wanted to finish my education to get a better job to provide for my son so he can have a better life than I had.” Chrisanti G.
“I was motivated to write my GED exam because of its flexibility. It could fit into my schedule perfectly. Also, because of how the GED certificate is widely accepted around the globe.” David Y.
“I’m 22 from College Park, Maryland, and got my GED in June 2021. I decided to get my GED because I dropped out at the age of 15 years old from school. I hit a rough time in my life and felt like I needed something accomplished in terms of education. And that’s why I decided to get my GED and move on from where I was. Now I’m deciding to continue my education because I have a GED. I’m going to enroll in college and further my education, and be able to move on to different things in life. If I can do it, anybody can do it! Trust me, it’s not easy, but it’s possible. And I want to thank all the educators over there at GED and all the administrators, everybody who helped me through this process, my family, my friends, and if you’re [reading] this and you’re struggling to get this done, Trust me, I know it’s not easy, but once you get it done, it’s a whole big world of opportunities that open up for you. And it’s worth it. Put the work in and study and just get it done.” Daniel G.
Getting your GED takes time and energy, but is a GED worth it after everything is said and done? Yes! You will enjoy better job and education opportunities with a GED. Incorporate ways to help yourself stay motivated and study. You’ll be happy you did!
