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GED Kick-starts Dream for 57-year-old Korean-American

Posted 01/14/2010

Quitting is not an option for Im Trina.

The 57-year-old was not discouraged when she failed the first set of tests for her General Educational Development (GED) certificate taken through Pikes Peak Behavioral Health Group’s Education Center last year.

Nor was she deterred after failing the second time. And the third time. And the fourth.

Trina kept her head high and goals in sight and finally obtained her GED after 14 attempts.

It’s not that Trina is not smart; she is quite smart. But English is her second language, making reading comprehension and writing very difficult.

Trina migrated to the United States in the 1970s from a small village in South Korea where English instruction was not readily available.

When Trina was 6, American missionaries came to her small village to help with infrastructure and basic needs like clean water. “I thought, ‘I want to do that someday,’” she said.

Trina had a Korean high school diploma and wanted to pursue further education here, but married and chose to raise children instead. For the next 20 years, she raised two kids and had a successful career at a child development center.

After her daughter was injured in an accident, Trina quit her job to take care of her from home. As her daughter grew stronger, Trina decided it was time to pursue higher education and enrolled in GED training at Harrison School District’s Gorman School.

“It was very hard because of the language barrier,” Trina said. “But I had the right place and the right people to help me out.”

Despite failing multiple tests, Trina never gave up, although sometimes, she wanted to. “At the time, I asked myself: ‘Why am I doing this?’ I really don’t need this. I am old. I have a good life,” Trina said. “Many times I thought I would quit, but I never did.”

Trina earned her GED nine months after walking into her first test in July 2008. “My self-esteem is very high now.”

Trina plans to apply to Antioch University for a Religious Studies degree. Fifty years later, she is pursuing that 6-year-old girl’s dream by becoming a missionary in the Middle East and proving the old adage: “It’s never too late.”

“I know it is very hard out there, but I also know I can do it; I can do anything,” Trina said.

Education Center expands with partnerships

Pikes Peak Behavioral Health Group’s Education Center has partnered with The Gorman School to provide GED testing for students going through their GED preparation course.

Susan Chandler of the Gorman School helped Im Trina through the course and the testing process.

“Susan did a tremendous job with Im,” said Manager of Education Services Rudy Gonzales, Ph.D. “It’s a great partnership”

The Education Center is also partnering with Penrose Hospital to provide GED testing. In addition to testing, the site will serve as an incentive for students to explore career options in the medical field.

“The GED is equivalent to a high school diploma and without it, students don’t have a chance,” Gonzales said. “We’ve helped more than 900 students get their diploma. It’s pretty cool.”

For more information about the Education Center and GED Testing, contact Dr. Rudy Gonzales at 719-637-8906 or click here. 

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